Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

Conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ does not come from man's wisdom. It is only through the Holy Ghost that one can have a mighty change of heart and be born again. Witnessing miracles won't have any lasting effect. It is what's written on the heart, and must be constantly feed and nourished.

Day 4188

Today's Favorite Verse: John 10:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: John 10:4-5
"And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers."

I want to be one that flees when a stranger tries to make me follow. I don't want to stray from the Lord, but always know His voice and follow Him. I pondered on several experiences I have had when I had to flee. When the Spirit whispered "That's a priestcraft don't follow them.", "Throw that book away!", "That is a false preacher, turn that video off!", "He is lukewarm, spit him out." I don't ever want to lose the ability to hear that warning voice.

Day 4131

Today's Favorite Verse: John 8:32, 43

Today's Favorite Verse: John 8:32, 43
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word."

This made me think about something I have observed recently. People can say the same things but mean something so different from each other. It's gotten where I don't even try to change anyone's mind, because I know I can't. The difference is I know what is true and there is a freedom in knowing it even when others see something totally different. Those that don't want to hear truth will hear what they want to hear. You can be blind to truth even with it right in front of you. The only thing I can do is live worthy to keep the Spirit with me, so I can hear the words of truth and understand it.

Day 4129

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 18:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 18:16
"But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established."

This verse reminded me of Elder Neil L. Anderson's recent BYU-Idaho Devotional. He spoke on a warning President Russell M. Nelson and then President Dallin H. Oaks both gave and then quoted President Henry B. Eyring on the law of witnesses, and authorized witnesses. We need to listen when warnings are repeated. I had been meaning to look at the talk by President Eyring. First, I wanted to find more scriptures on witnesses. After that I have President Eyring original quotes from his talk, and finally repeating Elder Anderson from his talk on all of them. How grateful I am to have authorized witnesses upon the earth and to be able to hear them.

"This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."
(2 Corinthians 13:1)

"And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established; and the testimony of three, and this work, in the which shall be shown forth the power of God and also his word, of which the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear record—and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last day."
(Ether 5:4)

"One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established."
(Deuteronomy 19:15)

"It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true."
(John 8:17)

"There seems to be no end to the Savior’s desire to lead us to safety. And there is constancy in the way He shows us the path. He calls by more than one means so that it will reach those willing to accept it. And those means always include sending the message by the mouths of His prophets whenever people have qualified to have the prophets of God among them. Those authorized servants are always charged with warning the people, telling them the way to safety.
One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time."
(Henry B. Eyring, "Finding Safety in Counsel", April 1997 General Conference)

"President Oaks began one part of his message by saying, "I feel." Whenever a prophet says, "I feel," our ears stand up. We start listening. We listen all the time, but we especially listen when he says, "I feel." And he said to emphasize the warning President Russell M. Nelson issued to us. This warning was given in April 2018. President Nelson's first general conference address after becoming the president of the church. He spoke of the conditions of our world with a very solemn warning that was repeated by President Oaks 12 days ago. And I know many of you know these words. They've been repeated many times. Here they are.
In the coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
Now I wondered when it was first said, “in the coming days.” That was eight years ago. Have the coming days come? It seems possible. Today these powerful words stand as two bookends. April 1st, 2018, February 10th, 2026.
Now having been spoken by two beloved prophets of God in the past eight years, this serious warning has been repeated 13 times in general conference including five times by members of the first presidency and quorum of the 12. They have been spoken 19 times in BYU Idaho devotionals.
How many knew this citation, this quotation of President Nelson that President Oaks said last week? How many knew that before President Oaks said it last week? Yeah, it's been with us, hasn't it?
Think of it. This specific warning has been a part of the Lord's teaching to you if you're 20 years old. How many here are 20 years old right now? Raise your hand. Some of you are much older. If you're 20 years old, it's been with you since you were 12 years old at teaching.
Nearly 30 years ago, President Henry B. Eyring, who was then a member of the quorum of the 12, said something in general conference that I have not forgotten. Here's what he said: "One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of the prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time."
The words that have been pressed upon my mind are the law of authorized witnesses. When repetitive, they should rivet our attention.
After quoting President Nelson 12 days ago, President Oaks issued a more sobering counsel. He said, "One of the many reasons you will need the constant influence of the Holy Ghost is that you live in a season in which the adversary has become so effective at disguising truth that if you don't have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived. Many obstacles lie ahead. The distractions will be many."
(Elder Neil L. Andersen, "President Oaks and the Law of Witnesses", BYU-Idaho Devotional, 22 Feb 2026)

Day 4071

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 11:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 11:2-3
"Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?"

I always wondered why John sent his disciples to ask if Jesus was the one they had been waiting for. Didn't John already baptize Jesus and have that witness and testimony? Wasn't John the prophesied fore-running that prepared the way for Him.

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."
(John 1:29, 32-33)

Why would John then need to find out is Jesus was the Christ? I realize now that he didn't. It was his followers that needed to become disciples of Jesus Christ. They needed to hear and see Jesus, witness the miracles he performed. Then as they bare witness to John what they saw they would understand too.

Day 4064

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 5:2-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 5:2-4
"And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.
Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof."

I do love the question and answer session that Zechariah has with the angel. That is how the Spirit teaches me. While I am reading the scriptures questions come to my mind and then the spirit will open my eyes to understand or think about it in a different way.

What made me reflect in these verses is the seriousness of swearing and taking the Lord's name in vain. It is one of the ten commandments. Yet, how easily that falls from people lips now. It feels like an epidemic. When I picture that flying roll and how as a curse it's upon the whole earth it seem literally fulfilled. It reminded me of the story of President Kimball.

In the hospital one day I was wheeled out of the operating room by an attendant who stumbled, and there issued from his angry lips vicious cursing with a combination of the names of the Savior. Even half-conscious, I recoiled and implored: “Please! Please! That is my Lord whose names you revile.”
There was a deathly silence, then a subdued voice whispered, “I am sorry.” He had forgotten for the moment that the Lord had forcefully commanded all his people, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Ex. 20:7).
Many people would excuse themselves for cursing by saying that the Ten Commandments were given millennia ago to a faraway people, but it must be remembered that he not only gave them with power to the Israelites but he also reiterated them with emphasis to the Jews in the meridian of time and even in our own dispensation has repeated them for our own benefit and guidance.
To the young man of Jerusalem who asked the way of salvation, Christ said, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matt. 19:17).
(Spencer W. Kimball, “President Kimball Speaks Out on Profanity,” Ensign, Feb. 1981, 3)

Day 4049

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 7:25-26

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 7:25-26
"Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients."

This reminded me of President Nelson, how he taught us to seek peace, be peacemakers, to seek the Holy Ghost and have it as our guide. I could not comprehend then what I do now what peace would come into my life, as I listened and applied what he counseled.

"In the coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
"Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", Apr 2018 General Conference)

Seven years later President Oaks built upon that those words, the preparation period given by President Nelson is now accomplished. We are in the season he spoke of, where if we do not have the Holy Ghost as our guide we will be deceived. Without it there is no peace.

"One of the many reasons you will need the constant influence of the Holy Ghost is that you live in a season in which the adversary has become so effective at disguising truth that if you don't have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived. Many obstacles lie ahead. The distractions will be many."
(Dallin H. Oaks, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, delivered this BYU devotional address on February 10, 2026.")

I thought about how people that didn't prepare then, to learn how to have peace in the midst of trials and the spirit as their guide, will be looking for it now.

Day 4013

Today's Favorite Verse: Song of Solomon 8:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Song of Solomon 8:14
"Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices."

This is the last verse in the Song of Solomon. I can't say I learned anything inspiring the whole time I read this book. I really tried. Then I finally turned to the Joseph Smith Translation to see if I was missing anything, and I actually laughed.

"Note: the JST manuscript states that “The Songs of Solomon are not inspired writings”

Furthermore, I found Elder Bruce R. McConkie said: "Song of Solomon is biblical trash—it is not inspired writing."
(Bruce R. McConkie, "The Bible, a Sealed Book", Supplement, A Symposium on the New Testament, 1984 (1984), 1–7)

I guess I was actually being guided by the spirit the whole time.

Day 3969

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 11:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 11:5-6
"The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness."

I have been pondering last night and today over the need to see justice done for those wronged. In part this was triggered by Elder Ronald A Rasband's talk the other day at the MTCs.

“We should all thank Heavenly Father that we get to have a front-row seat to the fulfillment of ancient and modern-day prophecy,
To illustrate the Lord’s hastening of His work, Elder Rasband countered six false narratives from those who “cannot see or acknowledge what is happening."
"I feel that we are only scratching the surface of what the Lord has in store for us as He prepares the world for His Second Coming,”
“I feel that we are only scratching the surface of what the Lord has in store for us as He prepares the world for His Second Coming,”
“So buckle up, hold on tight, because I firmly believe that the best is yet to come.”
(Ronald A. Rasband, "'A remarkable time to serve’: At MTC, Elder Rasband testifies the Lord is hastening His work", Church News, 28 Jan 2026)

I have asked myself "Do I know what time it is? Am I really seeing what's happening?"

These are the last days, I'm not so sure justice will come by man.The wicked will consume the wicked. I do not need the chaos of the world to turn my focus and time away from what is needful. I need to put my focus on doing good things that cultivate the spirit to guide me. Work on my family history, attend the temple, seek knowledge, growth, ponder and prayer. Right now having the spirit as my guide is the best thing I can do to survive these days. Oh, I know what time it is, and I don't need to see all the gory details on the world's wickedness. My focus is the Lord is coming, I'm preparing for that day.

Deseret News

Day 3956

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 40:34-38

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 40:34-38
"Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys."

I pondering on this physical manifestation of the Lord's presence as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Why do I not see that as I go near the temple? I did reflect on one time my husband and I in the early morning hours witnessed a strange pillar over the temple. I'm sure at times others have seen such a thing, but it's not always there. I reflected on how I may not see things now but I do feel the spirit while in the temple. I have been privilege to know the Lord was there to accept his temple. Then I realized I've not yet noticed in Old Testament them recording feeling the Lord's presence in the tabernacle. It was always they knew by seeing not by feeling. Were they not given the gift of the Holy Ghost to know such things then? I will have to watch for this more closely.

"When they journeyed in the wilderness, God commanded the Children of Israel to build a tabernacle. He gave them a pattern thereof. In that tabernacle the Lord showed forth his power among Israel. It became visible not only on the inside, but on the outside the glory of God was made manifest and rested upon it. By this the Children of Israel knew that God was near unto them. They not only believed, but the testimony manifested before their eyes gave them a knowledge that God was in the midst of their camp; although through their wickedness, unbelief, and darkness of mind God withdrew his immediate presence from the midst of the congregation, and Moses only was permitted to see the and talk to him face to face, yet the display of God's power and glory was so great that the Children of Israel knew that God was near them."
(Orson Pratt, "Temple in Ancient America, Etc.", JD 19:311)

Day 3775

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 10:13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 10:13-14
"And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such."

I pondered on how the Lord uses the laws of nature for his mighty works. Are they any less miraculous because it could be a natural phenomenon? What I cannot doubt is the timing of all these things. Nor how selective some of these plagues were. It made me reflect on being thankful in all things.

"Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things."
(Doctrine and Covenants 59:7)

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."
(Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Receiving all things in thankfulness doesn't exclude the bad that happens. I had a new understanding of this verse last week. I saw thankfulness in all things as recognizing no matter what the Lord is with me. He will be by my side come rain, hail or sunshine. If locust are devouring the earth I am thankful the Lord is with me as I pass through it. I am never alone. Receiving a hundred fold doesn't mean I will be rich in material things, but instead in spirit. I will come to know the Lord as I walk beside him.

Day 3766

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 111:5, 7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 111:5, 7-8
"Concern not yourselves about your debts, for I will give you power to pay them.
Tarry in this place, and in the regions round about;
And the place where it is my will that you should tarry, for the main, shall be signalized unto you by the peace and power of my Spirit, that shall flow unto you."

This made me ponder on our move to Utah. It felt right but we were struggling financially. It wasn't until someone offered to buy our land that we decided to look for a different house. It felt right to stay in the city we were initially lead to. When I saw the house we now live in, I knew this was our forever home. This is our place of refuge from life's storms. This is were peace is and the spirit is burned into the walls. Our financial challenges became more manageable. Everything just fell right into place as we started over fresh. Making sure to honor our commitment to pay a full and honest tithe and offerings. Sometimes just starting over where the Lord will lead you is the best place to begin.

I found this wonderful talk from Elder L. Tom Perry where he speaks of his challenges and how he was told to stay in the very state we moved from.

"I remember a critical time in my life and how grateful I was when a still, small voice gave me direction to make an important decision. I had been with a retail firm for a number of years. We had enjoyed extraordinary success. We wanted to expand the business but needed a great deal of capital. In an attempt to raise the money, we contacted the best financial advisers we could find. They encouraged us to merge with a larger firm. The merger was successfully completed, and I was asked to sign a five-year contract to give continuity to management. Within a matter of months I found myself in a very difficult situation. The new owners wanted me to violate a trust that I felt I just could not do. After long discussions, they continued to insist and I continued to refuse. Seeing there was no way to break the deadlock, I agreed to leave the company. The timing for me was devastating. I had a wife who was seriously ill and required a lot of medical attention, a daughter away to college, and a son on a mission. I spent the next year just getting enough consulting work to pay my expenses.
After struggling for about one year, a company called me from California and invited me to come out and talk to them about working for them. I went out and negotiated a very good contract; I was delighted with the opportunity. I told them that I had to return home and discuss it with my family before I could give an answer. I returned home and after a careful discussion, I convinced my family that it was the right thing to do. In the process of calling the firm to accept the offer, a voice just as strong and powerful as I have ever heard came to me and said, “Say no to the offer.” I could not ignore the voice, so I turned the offer down, but I was distressed. I could not comprehend why I had been told to do such a thing. I went upstairs to my bedroom, sat on the bed, opened the scriptures, and they fell open to the Doctrine and Covenants, section 111. This was the only section given in the state of Massachusetts, where my home was at that particular time. These words literally jumped out of the page and met my eye:
“Concern not yourselves about your debts, … I will give you power to pay them. …
“Tarry in this place, and in the regions round about” 
A great peace came to my soul. Within just a few days I was offered a fine position in Boston. A few months later I had the great privilege of hosting a conference in which President Harold B. Lee, then First Counselor in the First Presidency, was the featured speaker. The conference was a glorious success as we feasted on the words of President Lee. The following July, President Joseph Fielding Smith passed away and President Lee became the prophet. Three months later I was asked to come to Salt Lake, where I received a call to leave my profession and join the General Authorities.
I have often wondered what would have happened if I had not heeded the Holy Spirit in its counseling me not to leave Boston."
(L. Tom Perry, "That Spirit Which Leadeth to Do Good", Apr 1997 General Conference)

Day 3700

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 91:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 91:3
"Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated."

I've read the Apocrypha and I think everyone should at least once. There were parts I felt the spirit and other parts I did not. The Lord said there are things true and some things that are not true and are interpolations of men. I can understand how it was not necessary to translate it. When you mingle truth and error the effort to untangle it becomes like salt that has lost its savor. How does it lose its savor? It's by being polluted or contaminated. If you mix sand into salt it has no value as salt any longer. I feel like the experience of reading the Apocrypha was to my benefit but to dig deeper into it would start to go beyond the mark.

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."
(Matthew 5:13)

Day 3680

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 79:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 79:2
"And I will send upon him the Comforter, which shall teach him the truth and the way whither he shall go;"

This made me think of the sacrament prayers and the promise "that they may always have his Spirit to be with them." The key is to always remember the Savior. When we lose sight of the Lord we can travel down paths that will cause the Spirit to leave. I rely on and pray that I will always have the spirit with me. I do not want to ever risk the loss of the spirit. I try to be very conscious of the spirit so I know which way to go. The moment I feel it leave I stop and look at what is going on and consider things wisely. The counsel the Spirit has given me lately is to focus on Him, not the storm.

Day 3668

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 50:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 50:2
"Behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many spirits which are false spirits, which have gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world."

This reminded me how I used to love to watch paranormal shows were people hunted and tried to communicate with ghosts. They would put cameras up and make audio recordings. Some of their findings were pretty amazing. Hearing the recorded voices always disturbed my spirit, which is never a good sign. But, I was so curious as to what these ghosts were. I knew there were righteous angels and spirit that were sent from God for specific messages. But, what were these other spirits?

The light did not come on until I realized they were deceiving spirits. Mischievous spirits of deceased individuals or Satan's followers trying to deceive. That's why no one was able to catch these ghosts. They were playing with them. They were making people waste their time running after them. Deceiving spirits can appear as little children, famous people of the ages, anyone in history they want to be. A true spirit sent from God would not cause us to run around foolishly after them. When a true spirit has a message he will deliver it and be done. The power to discern spirits and their true source is a gift of the Holy Ghost. I vowed never to waste my time watching another show like those again. Why would you want to even play with this? This is not entertainment, it's evil. They truly have no lasting value and can only lead to deception.  

"‘For nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God’
(Joseph Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 205)

Day 3639

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 47:1, 4

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 47:1, 4
"Behold, it is expedient in me that my servant John should write and keep a regular history, and assist you, my servant Joseph, in transcribing all things which shall be given you, until he is called to further duties.
Wherefore, it shall be given him, inasmuch as he is faithful, by the Comforter, to write these things. Even so. Amen."

The header to this chapter gives a little background.
"John Whitmer, who had already served as a clerk to the Prophet, initially hesitated when he was asked to serve as the Church historian and recorder, replacing Oliver Cowdery. He wrote, “I would rather not do it but observed that the will of the Lord be done, and if he desires it, I desire that he would manifest it through Joseph the Seer.” After Joseph Smith received this revelation, John Whitmer accepted and served in his appointed office."

I pondered on how accepting calling we often feel unequal to it, or really don't want to do it. Though we often do because we know the Lord desires it and is his will. The blessings come when through the Spirit we are guided and made equal to the task. What a blessing it has been to many generations to have the history of the church recorded and preserved.

Day 3636

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 44:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 44:1-2
"Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, it is expedient in me that the elders of my church should be called together, from the east and from the west, and from the north and from the south, by letter or some other way.
And it shall come to pass, that inasmuch as they are faithful, and exercise faith in me, I will pour out my Spirit upon them in the day that they assemble themselves together."

I pondered on how not only the elders are to gather but all saints too. We hold general conference twice a year. I am anxiously awaiting the April General Conference and the messages and counsel that will be given. We have been richly blessed by the out pouring of the Spirit at all of them. I marvel at how strong the spirit is while I listen intently during general conference. I can never quite capture that feeling again when I reread the talks afterwards. Yes, new things stand out to me but the initial witness of the spirit of their truthfulness is never as powerful. It must have something to do with immersing myself for two days straight. One talk right after another. I never do that when I'm going over them to study.

Day 3633

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 11:12, 22

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 11:12, 22
"And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.
But now hold your peace; study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereto."

I had a question today and these two verses answered it. I know the course I am on and what the Spirit has told me. I will not go amiss if I continue to study God's words, through scriptures and the prophets, and not books or man's wisdom about the scriptures. To many are trying to wrest the scriptures and make evil sound good. I just need to not listen to them, as tempting as that can be.

"Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous."
(Deuteronomy 16:19)

"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."
(2 Peter 3:16)

"Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction."
(Alma 13:20)

Day 3600

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 9:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 9:8
"But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right."

You cannot have an intellectual testimony of the gospel. You cannot know intellectually that God exists, and that Jesus Christ atoned for your sins. Yes, it is essential to ponder and study the word of God. Pray to know if it is true. Then the spirit will testify if the desire to know is sincere. I have learned many things through the spirit but I cannot intellectually explain it. Feelings is are what I have to go on.

Day 3598

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 8:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 8:2-3
"Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground."

I had a question today. I was trying to make sense of why I see things one way and some others see it drastically different. Am I just not seeing things clearly? I do this to check myself and make sure I'm not going off track. Yet in my heart I knew my impressions on the matter were correct. As I read these verses again I reflected on this question. Then into my mind I recalled an experience I had and how I was given exact instructions on how to prepare for what was coming. I followed those impressions. The event happened and I was prepared. What was prepared in advance was a blessing to me and my family. After recalling that experience I knew the answer to the question haunting me all day. I know today, just like I did when I was given exact instructions on how to prepare earlier. The same spirit of revelation confirms that to me. I am not off track and I have no need to question what I am seeing.

Day 3597