Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 13:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 13:6
"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."

I find it interesting that the Jews did not recognize the prophesy and how crucifying Jesus Christ would give him these very wounds. Upon resurrection to a perfect glorified body Jesus retained these wounds in his hands and feet. The purpose is to testify that He is the Christ. The promised Messiah that would come into the world and redeem all mankind. He paid the price and earned every wound. When Jesus Christ appeared to his apostles after his resurrection he introduced himself and had them come and feel the wounds in his hand, feet and side. He did the same in the Book of Mormon when he appeared in the Americas. He will do the same when he appears to the Jews in Jerusalem. I am sure when I get to see Him he will also show me those wounds.

Day 4052

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 69:21

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 69:21
"They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."

In family scriptures tonight we were going over the "Types or Symbols of Christ". This verse made me think of how many verses in the Old Testament spoke of Christ and how they were to recognize the Messiah when he came.

"They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink."
(Matthew 27:34)

"And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down."
(Mark 15:36)

"After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
(John 19:28-30)

Day 3925

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 33:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 33:14
"Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?"

I pondered on how important reading the scriptures have been in developing my testimony of Jesus Christ. I have come to know Him in a way all the sacrament sermons, Sunday school lessons, and Relief Society discussions could have never given me. It is my one on one time to be instructed by the Spirit, and to come to hear the words of Christ testifying of Him to me.

Day 3477

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 1:22-23

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 1:22-23

"Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

I'm now in the New Testament. I love how the words of prophets in the Old Testament are fulfilled in the New Testament. The scriptures bare testimony of each other.

"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

(Isaiah 7:14)

Day 3089

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 26:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 26:2

"Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:"

I pondered on how a prophet can only speak the words of the Lord. He cannot diminish what he was told to say or the sins of the people would fall on his head. I reminded me of Jacob when he had to preach hard things to the people.

"Now, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, according to the responsibility which I am under to God, to magnify mine office with soberness, and that I might rid my garments of your sins, I come up into the temple this day that I might declare unto you the word of God.

Yea, it grieveth my soul and causeth me to shrink with shame before the presence of my Maker, that I must testify unto you concerning the wickedness of your hearts.

And also it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech concerning you, before your wives and your children, many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God;

But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I must do according to the strict commands of God, and tell you concerning your wickedness and abominations, in the presence of the pure in heart, and the broken heart, and under the glance of the piercing eye of the Almighty God.

Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to the plainness of the word of God. For behold, as I inquired of the Lord, thus came the word unto me, saying: Jacob, get thou up into the temple on the morrow, and declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people."

(Jacob 2:2, 6-7, 10-11)

Day 2930

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 104:24

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 104:24

"O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches."

This chapter speaks of God's creations and works. I pondered on how I take much of these things, like the rising of the sun, for granted. It is good to be reminded that the creation itself testifies of the creator.

"I testify that the earth and all life upon it are of divine origin. The Creation did not happen by chance. It did not come ex nihilo (out of nothing). And human minds and hands able to build buildings or create computers are not accidental. It is God who made us and not we ourselves. We are His people!  The Creation itself testifies of a Creator. We cannot disregard the divine in the Creation. Without our grateful awareness of God’s hand in the Creation, we would be just as oblivious to our provider as are goldfish swimming in a bowl. With deep gratitude, we echo the words of the Psalmist, who said, “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches."

(Russell M. Nelson, "The Creation", Apr 2000, General Conference)

Day 2741

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 47:34

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 47:34

"And it came to pass that Amalickiah took the same servant that slew the king, and all them who were with him, and went in unto the queen, unto the place where she sat; and they all testified unto her that the king was slain by his own servants; and they said also: They have fled; does not this testify against them? And thus they satisfied the queen concerning the death of the king."

This chapter tells how "Amalickiah uses treachery, murder, and intrigue to become king of the Lamanites". There are a lot of tactics that he uses that I could totally relate to our day, or the possibility of someone using such methods. The word that stuck out to me this time was "testify". How a false story is given and told in such a manner that others believe it as the truth. That has been something I have tried so hard to be watchful of. For I am finding that there is an impatience in our society now in waiting for truth to come out. Instead we are so quick to believe a lie simply because of the person telling it. I ask myself "How does one protect themselves from believing the lie?"

First, I think it must be the ability to gather facts and not come to a conclusion until all the information is presented. That would require patience, and not being easily pressured by others to make a decision. It would also require the ability to accept new facts as they are presented, and draw new conclusions from them. This would require humility in being able to change ones position. 

What do I do in the case of someone using treachery, murder and intrigue? I suppose I would need to ask myself what would be a person's motive in their actions. A big red flag with Amalickiah is how many people died around him which only advanced his position. Something just wasn't right. Questioning people and motives is asking a lot of a person, but the price in not believing a liar is worth it. The bottom line that I can see is I absolutely need the spirit to guide me in these matters. Follow the prompting when things don't feel right. I need patience once again to not come to conclusion to quickly.  

"...for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls.." 

(Jacob 4:13)

This reminds of last night's family scriptures discussion and how it fit with some recent events in the news. Interestingly, it did come down to treachery, murder and intrigue. How good people were deceived into believing false doctrine simply because they never questioned what others were saying. If they had understood the doctrine they would have never given the adversary power. I remarked on how grateful I was that I followed the counsel the spirit gave me when I began to read the scriptures daily. I was told to read the scriptures and not books about the scriptures. What a protection that counsel has been for me. For considering how ill I was at the time, it would have been so much easier to have someone else explain it to me since I was incapable of reading on my own. I had to follow along in the scriptures while listening to the recordings online. It took years before I could read and comprehend what I was reading on my own. I totally get how hard it is to read the scriptures. But, the price one must pay and the benefit it is in your life is so worth it. 

Day 1905

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 John 1:1

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 John 1:1
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;"

John is testifying of having heard, seen and handled the living Christ. What must that have been like to hear John bear witness? Then I thought about the fact that I do. It's in the scriptures. Then I was incredibly grateful for the Bible Videos the Church has put out. For the one on the Risen Lord touched my heart so much, it was almost like I was almost there.



Day 1733

Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrew 3:6, 14

Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrew 3:6, 14
"But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;"

I just have to believe in Christ, and then stand firm and true to that unto the end. As I was reflecting on that I thought of the hymn that Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote, "I Believe in Christ". I found the Apr 1972 General Conference talk "The Testimony of Jesus" where he first read those powerful words. The hymn was amazingly first song by the Tabernacle Choir on the occasion that later became Elder McConkie's final general conference talk, April 1985, "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane" he passed just 13 days later. The witness by the Holy Ghost as he spoke was so powerful I shall remember and cherish the experience forever.

Afterwards, I listened to various renditions of the hymn song by the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square over the years. I wanted to find the very best version of it. Then I remembered that I didn't hear if from them. In fact it happened this past July 2019 in New York City. The Millennial Choir and Orchestra were to perform in concert in Carnegie Hall and there was a major power outage. They took to the streets and sang the most amazing rendition I have ever heard. They sounded like angels truly testifying of Christ. People that would have never attended the show the Lord made sure they had a way of hearing these beautiful words. What a powerful moment.



Day 1709

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 12:17, 23

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 12:17, 23
"But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."

In these two versions they show the difference between Peter giving glory to God on his escape from prison, and Herod being called a God by the people and not acknowledging any difference. It is better to confess God's hand in all things. It really isn't that hard to do.

"In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments."
(Doctrine and Covenants 59:21)

Day 1603

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 24:16

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?


Day 1570

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 3:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 3:17
"And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

In this chapter Jesus comes to be baptized of John. If one being perfect has need of baptism how much more so than the rest of humankind. No one accountable can enter into the kingdom of heaven without baptism. If Jesus without sin had not been baptized then he would have not been obedient to this commandment, and become imperfect.

In this chapter the three members of the Godhead make their presence know. Jesus Christ, the son of God; the Holy Ghost, in the form of a dove; and God the Father voice. It made me look up all the scriptures I could recall when God the Father testifies of His Son.

Jesus transfigured on the mount.
"And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him." (Luke 9:35) (see Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; 2 Peter 1:17)

Nephi testifying of revelation received.
"And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.
And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." (2 Nephi 31:11, 15)

Right before Jesus appears in the Americas after His resurrection.
"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him." (3 Nephi 11:7)

To the young boy, Joseph Smith in the sacred grove, ushering in the last dispensation of time.
"It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" (Joseph Smith-History 1:17)

Day 1507

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 96:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 96:7
"Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength."

When I read this I paused and thought "How can I give glory and strength to the Lord? I have no power to give Him." Which I knew that wasn't what the verse was saying but I had to sit and ponder on that thought. What I came away with it is that I need to acknowledge to others the Lord's glory and strength. As I testify of Him it is strengthening Him in their eyes. I then am giving Him glory, honor and strength.

Day 1149

Today's Favorite Verse: Esther 7:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Esther 7:4
"For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage."

although - HEB for that would not have damaged the king's interests.

I pondered on the great courage and wisdom it took for Esther to hold her tongue, and then loose it as being led by the spirit. For it is wisdom in deed to know when to use your tongue.

This reminded me of Jesus Christ's example of holding his peace and then testifying when the time was right.

"And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."
(Mark 14:60-62)

I also though of when Joseph Smith was told to hold his peace after experiencing the loss of the 116 page manuscript of the Book of Mormon.

"But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter."
(Doctrine & Covenants 10:37)

It is through the spirit that I know when to speak and when to remain silent.


Day 1008