Today's Favorite Verse: Job 8:4, 6 "If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous."
A different friend of Job's, Bildad the Shunhite, now shocks me with his words. How did I not see or understand before how terrible what he said was? Again Job is being told his children that died were wicked. Then I noticed another misconception that only the righteous are able to prosper. If you think being righteous will only bring you sunshine and roses you are sadly mistaken. Everyone has an equal opportunity for trials in their lives. Like somehow having lost everything proves Job was not a righteous man. The only promise I have in life is if I lean on the Lord he will walk beside me, and carry me, and not leave me alone. He will give me that peace that passeth understanding, even in the midst of the storm. I like how Job set the record straight.
"This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked." (Job 9:22)
Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 67:13 "Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected."
I really like the subject of patience. It is a divine attribute I wish to obtain. It is something I learned the hard way not to pray for, because working those patience muscles really hurt. Having your patience level tested can be really rough when you are not spiritually prepared for it. One thing I have come to appreciate is patience comes a little easier when you leave your will and pride behind you. Knowing things come in the Lord's time, and He knows best on a matter has really helped me to not fight things so hard.
"When the Lord advises us to “continue in patience until [we] are perfected,” He is acknowledging that it takes time and perseverance. Understanding the why of the gospel and the why of the priesthood will help us to see the divine purpose of all of this. It will give us motivation and strength to do the right things, even when they are hard. Staying focused on the basic principles of gospel living will bless us with clarity, wisdom, and direction." (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Why of Priesthood Service", April 2012 General Conference)
"Patience is a process of perfection. The Savior Himself said that in your patience you possess your souls. Or, to use another translation of the Greek text, in your patience you win mastery of your souls. Patience means to abide in faith, knowing that sometimes it is in the waiting rather than in the receiving that we grow the most. This was true in the time of the Savior. It is true in our time as well, for we are commanded in these latter days to “continue in patience until ye are perfected." (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Continue in Patience", April 2010 General Conference)
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God."
I reflect back on my life today I see that it has only been through adversity, and the refiners fire that I have come to know God. They are but a small price to pay.
"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.
"Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so."
This made me think of something that was shared with me this week. This was an exchange that took place after a recent stake conference that Elder Gary E. Stevenson attended. The member asked, "What has the spirit been prompting you to focus your scripture study on most recently?" Elder Stevenson replied, "I've felt inspired to look at past scripture events and relate them to current events in our present day."
As I was reading this chapter I saw this as another example of past scripture events and how it relates to our day. Just like the children of Israel wouldn't listen to their judges we have members today that do not listen to the prophets. Anything that makes you not listen to the servants of God becomes other gods to you. This pandemic is a time of proving and testing the saints.
"That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not."
(Judges 2:22)
We must continue to hold onto the iron rod, and stay the course. As President Nelson said “the road ahead may be bumpy, but our destination is serene and secure. So, fasten your seatbelt, hang on through the bumps, and do what’s right.”
"And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statue and an ordinance, and there he proved them.
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statues, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee."
Israel is rejoicing for what the Lord was able to do for them in overcoming the Egyptians. There was song, music and dancing in celebration. They travel three days in the wilderness and come to Marah. They could not drink of the bitter waters. Then the people murmur against Moses because they have nothing to drink. The Lord has Moses throw in a tree that makes the waters sweet. What a contrast from rejoicing to murmuring. This will be a hard lesson for Israel to learn. They must be faithful, keep God's commandments and statutes. They will be proved and tested. I know what's coming but they did not. The lessons they struggle to learn are ones I can learn not to do. I can't even help but think of those bitter and sweet waters. How they will come to learn the bitter as they murmur against the Lord. How they will rejoice when he brings them safely into the promised land.
Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 8:17-18
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
For I reckon that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
This quote by Sister Linda S. Reeves, was in the Come, Follow Me manual and I found it so profound.
“I do not know why we have the many trials that we have, but it is my personal feeling that the reward is so great, so eternal and everlasting, so joyful and beyond our understanding that in that day of reward, we may feel to say to our merciful, loving Father, ‘Was that all that was required?’ I believe that if we could daily remember and recognize the depth of that love our Heavenly Father and our Savior have for us, we would be willing to do anything to be back in Their presence again, surrounded by Their love eternally. What will it matter … what we suffered here if, in the end, those trials are the very things which qualify us for eternal life and exaltation in the kingdom of God with our Father and Savior?”.
(“Worthy of Our Promised Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 11)
Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 24:16
"But their eyes were holden that they should not know him."
I love this chapter. I love the story of Jesus Christ appearing to his disciples after his resurrection. One thing I had pondered on is why were the two disciples on the road to Emmaus restrained from recognizing the Lord as he walked and opened the scriptures to them? I especially wondered this because in my near-death experience I know Satan appeared as the combination of people I had previously identified as being either spiritually or physically attractive. He did not appear as he truly would. He made his appearance such to confuse and attempt to deceive me. So why would the Lord appear in a similar manner, that I could naturally identify as deceiving? That would not fit who He is?
Then I realized I was looking at it with the eyes of being deceived and not what in this case it was, the eyes of faith. One being evil can only deceive. The Lord cannot, but he can test and try our faith. It was only through the spirit that he was first revealed. "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" What the disciples beautifully did on their walk with Jesus Christ on that road to Emmaus was bear testimony of Him. What the Savior did was open the scriptures up to them so they would come to recognize him. Isn't that exactly what I'm suppose to do?
Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 37:10
"For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire."
King Zedekiah and his people still are not listening to the prophesy of Jeremiah. Yet, I find it interesting in this chapter that several times in different situations they still ask what the Lord says. They want to be saved in their sins. That is why they keep waiting for the prophesies of Jeremiah to change. I found the conviction of Jeremiah quite impressive. Even with the best of odds, that they smite the whole army of the Chaldeans, and all their remaining are wounded, that they would still rise up and destroy the city. What greater conviction can he have then telling them that?
Applying it to my day. I can see that talking a big talk, pretending that you will listen to the word of the Lord, if in the end you fall to believe what was already given, or follow the commandments received, you will be overcome in the end.
Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 35:2, 6, 18-19
"Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.
But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever.
And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you:
Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever."
Jeremiah was told of the Lord to bring the Rechabites into the temple and offer them wine. The Rechabites refused because they were obedient to what their father had commanded them. In this the Lord blessed them.
So the question I pondered on was, "Why did a prophet of God tell them to do something that was counter to what they should do?" First off, it wasn't Jeremiah saying this, it was the Lord telling Jeremiah to do this. That to me makes it appear to be a test. It is through the test that they are blessed. That is in keeping with how I have seen my trials become blessings in the end. God's way are not my ways, and you wouldn't naturally think "I want to bless this person for their obedience so let me try them." But, that is how God often works.
To apply it to my day I think it's also telling me be obedient to the commandments given. When I am told something counter to that, even by a prophet, I need confirmation by the spirit if that is what I am to do. It could very easily be a test of my obedience. I am not to follow with blind obedience. I am given my agency to choose, and with it the right to receive personal revelation as confirmation. This will only make the commitment in following the word of the Lord with my whole heart and soul stronger.
"President Brigham Young put it bluntly: "I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way." Those who are grounded, rooted, and established will not withhold their supportive influence from Church leaders. Neither will the faithful be deceived, as President Brigham Young promised: "I will say to my brethren and sisters, Were your faith concentrated upon the proper object, your confidence unshaken, your lives pure and holy, every one fulfilling the duties of his or her calling according to the Priesthood and capacity bestowed upon you, you would be filled with the Holy Ghost, and it would be as impossible for any man to deceive and lead you to destruction as for a feather to remain unconsumed in the midst of intense heat."
(Neal A. Maxwell, We Will Prove Them Herewith, pp. 21–22)
Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 40:31
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings of eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
I pondered on how in this life it is all conditional upon the Father's will if I am to have these blessings now. I am to walk in faith, pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ. Hoping, believing that miracles can and will happen, if its according to the Father's will. One thing is sure these blessings will come in the next life.
This verse reminded me of Elder Neil L. Andersen's Oct 2018 General Conference talk "Wounded". I listened to it again and am adding the parts that stood out to me.
"Although the details will differ, the tragedies, the unanticipated tests and trials, both physical and spiritual, come to each of us because this is mortality.
We search for happiness. We long for peace. We hope for love. And the Lord showers us with an amazing abundance of blessings. But intermingled with the joy and happiness, one thing is certain: there will be moments, hours, days, sometimes years when your soul will be wounded.
My message today is especially to those who are keeping the commandments of God, keeping their promises to God, and, like the Norbys and many other men, women, and children in this worldwide audience, are confronted with trials and challenges that are unexpected and painful.
We each understand that difficulties are part of life, but when they come to us personally, they can take our breath away. Without being alarmed, we need to be ready. The Apostle Peter said, “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.” Along with the bright colors of happiness and joy, the darker-colored threads of trial and tragedy are woven deeply into the fabric of our Father’s plan. These struggles, although difficult, often become our greatest teachers.
Never give up—however deep the wounds of your soul, whatever their source, wherever or whenever they happen, and however short or long they persist, you are not meant to perish spiritually. You are meant to survive spiritually and blossom in your faith and trust in God.
At a time of enormous suffering, the Lord told the Prophet Joseph, “All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” How can painful wounds be for our good? In the crucible of earthly trials, patiently move forward, and the Savior’s healing power will bring you light, understanding, peace, and hope.
“[This] is part of life. It’s why we’re here. We are here to have a body and to be tried and tested. Some of those tests are physical; some are spiritual, and your trials here have been both physical and spiritual.”
“You have not given up. We are [so] proud of you. You faithful Saints have lost much, but through it all, you have fostered your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” "By keeping God’s commandments, we can find joy even in the midst of our worst circumstances.”
My brothers and sisters, it is my promise to you that increasing your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will bring you added strength and greater hope. For you, the righteous, the Healer of our souls, in His time and His way, will heal all your wounds. No injustice, no persecution, no trial, no sadness, no heartache, no suffering, no wound—however deep, however wide, however painful—will be excluded from the comfort, peace, and lasting hope of Him whose open arms and whose wounded hands will welcome us back into His presence. At that day, the Apostle John testifies, the righteous “which [come] out of great tribulation” will stand “arrayed in white robes … before the throne of God.” The Lamb will “dwell among [us] … and God shall wipe away all tears from [your] eyes.” This day will come. I so witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
Today's Favorite Verse: Ecclesiastes 9:10
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with they might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."
I was just pondering the other day about how much harder it would be to repent, overcome an addiction, or other issues as a spirit. For I pondered on my trials and all that I have learned from them. If in the next life I have no trials how would I be tested and learn from it? Knowledge and wisdom come from the experiences I gain in this life. Unless I am continuing my work to bring others to Christ, then in the next life there is no other labor for me.
"And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given to us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."
(Alma 34:33)
Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 11:4-5
"The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in the heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth."
How grateful I am to live in a time where the Lord's holy temples dot the earth. That it only takes me ten minutes or less to go there. It is my refuge from the storms that are gathering around us. Why do bad things happen to good people? Because God will have a tried and proven people. I may suffer at the hands of the wicked because they are allowed to prove where their hearts are too. The difference is God's loves me, and will give me peace through the storms.
Today's Favorite Verse: Job 38:4,6-7
"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"
Man has asked these questions since the beginning. Where did I come from? Where was I when the foundations of this world were created? How grateful I am that these questions are answered through revelation today. In the pre-existence I was with God the Father, raised as his spirit child in eternal mansions on high. I was part of the morning stars that sang together, and shouted for joy. Joy to know I would come to earth and obtain a body. To be tried and tested to gain experience. That a Savior would prepare the way for me, making it possible to return back to the Heavenly Father's presence again. I love the plan of salvation. How grateful I am for the veil of forgetfulness, and that I can live by faith.
I sat and listened to several video on God's plan of happiness. I found one I really liked and wanted to share.
Today's Favorite Verse: Job 8:6
"If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous."
This chapter was a challenge on which of Bildad statements was more offensive than another. One thing I have totally learned is God's time table is different than mine. I have to totally submit to His time table because he has a far better plan than me. If I had my way I would never get ill, have to wait for things, and never face a challenge. I also would never grow.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."
(Isaiah 55:8)
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven."
(Ecclesiastes 3:1)
I do believe that the righteous will prosper, but only in the time and season of the Lord. Until then I am tried and tested, refined and allowed to grow. For what the Lord has in store for me is far greater than I capable of seeing from where I am at.
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."
(James 1:12)
Today's Favorite Verse: Job 2:3-5
"And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
And Satan answered the Lord, and said Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face."
Now Satan thinks that Job will curse God because his health is taken from him. It made me ponder on the saints I have seen go through horrible physical suffering and how spiritually amazing they have been to me. Taking their health, made them spiritual giants. I have been humbled to sit at their feet. Then I realized that not everyone can endure what they endured. Each person has their own Job like experience they must pass through. Job was an amazing man and there was none like him, because he went through every trial a person could endure, yet he praised God. I am just grateful I have had only my unique tests I have had to go through. What is a trial to me may be no trial to someone else. I can judge no one on what they are ability to endure, we are all so incredibly different. There is wisdom in the Lord in the trial I must go through.
Today's Favorite Verse: Job 1:20-21
"The Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."
This chapter made me think of these scriptures.
"And after their temptations, and much tribulation, behold, I, the Lord, will feel after them, and if they harden not their hearts, and stiffen not their necks against me, they shall be converted, and I will heal them."
(Doctrine and Covenants 112:13)
"For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified."
(Doctrine and Covenants 101:5)
Just like father Abraham went through his trial with Isaac, so Abraham could know more about Abraham. So did Job need to know more about Job. The Lord knew his heart already, but Job needed to know it with every fiber of his being. That is so he could be refined and sanctified. Job lost nothing for his children were his for the eternities. He had to loose all to be blessed with more after the trial of his faith. It is only though my trails that I come to know my dept of my love and faith in my Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. I know there is still so much to learn.
Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 32:31
"Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart."
This reminded me of a scripture I was reading and pondering on yesterday.
"And after their temptations, and much tribulation, behold, I, the Lord, will feel after them, and if they harden not their hearts, and stiffen not their necks against me, they shall be converted, and I will heal them."
(Doctrine and Covenants 112:13)
In a way this answers the question why bad things happen to good people. It is all part of the test that comes with this earth life experience. The Lord allows me to be tried and tested so he can feel after my heart and know if I will still turn to him. He is waiting to heal me from the pain I go through. It is in those moments of His peace that passes understanding that I come to know Him. It saddened me when people mocked the faith and prayers of others when recent mass killings happened. They showed a harden heart and stiff necks, with no understanding of how prayer can heal. My heart grieved for them more than for the people that were taken.
Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 29:5, 10, 36
"And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.
And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly."
I kept pondering on the word sanctify. The priests and the Levites needed to be sanctified before they could even clean the temple. They also prepared their hearts to covenant with the Lord. Then at the end of the chapter I see it was done suddenly. What I realized I was seeing was the preparations needed to be a people prepared to meet the Lord
"I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God; wherefore, gird up your loins and I will suddenly come to my temple. Even so. Amen"
(Doctrine and Covenants 36:8)
"The Lord who shall suddenly come to his temple; the Lord who shall come down upon the world with a curse to judgment; yea, upon all the nations that forget God, and upon all the ungodly among you."
(Doctrine and Covenants 133:3)
"Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping."
(Mark 13:35-36)
I may not know when the Lord's second coming is, but I can see a pattern that his people must be sanctified in preparation to meet Him. In this past year I have heard many talks on this subject. It has made me reflect on the law of chastity, virtue and sanctification. As the world grows darker and unclean, there is a need for God's people to sanctify themselves. I think it's the only way we get through it.
I found this in the bible dictionary under Conversion.
"...conversion will be complete and will change a natural man into a sanctified, born again, purified person - a new creature in Christ Jesus. Complete conversion comes after many trials and much testing."
"And after their temptations, and much tribulation, behold, I, the Lord, will feel after them, and if they harden not their hearts, and stiffen not their necks against me, they shall be converted, and I will heal them."
(Doctrine & Covenants 112:13)
That makes complete sense to me that this last LDS General Conference there was much discussion on being a tried and tested people. I know what a blessing my trials and tests have been for me. Without them I would not have come to know the Lord. Was it easy, no, was it worth it, yes! Am I done? Probably not, there is so much cleansing left to do.
"Forty years ago, President Ezra Taft Benson taught that "every generation has its tests and its chance to stand and prove itself." I believe our attitude toward and use of the family proclamation is one of those tests for this generation. I pray for all Latter-day Saints to stand firm in that test."
I believe my generation for the most part failed the test given us by Ezra Taft Benson, that mothers stay in the home, and today I see the results of that failure and the bondage our daughters are in. For we moved the standard from one income supporting a household to two and most mothers are now forced to work. As a mother in Zion I implore the mothers today to not fail in the test for your generation. Teach your children the family proclamation. The coming generation will need it, or they to will find themselves left in bondage by their mothers.
