Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 2:4-8

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 2:4-8
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?"

Prior to reading in Acts I was reading in the Book of Mormon, and it reminded me of this.

"For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding."
(2 Nephi 31:3)

The Lord is doing a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men. He has prepared a way for all to hear the gospel in their own language for their understanding. What a great missionary force is among us. The gift of tongues is spreading the gospel. The Book of Mormon has been translated fully into 115 languages. Selected portions are in an additional 21 languages, with an additional 26 language translations in progress. I love reading and listening to the experiences of the translators of the Book of Mormon.

Day 4144

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 129:1, 4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 129:1, 4-5
"There are two kinds of beings in heaven, namely: Angels, who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones—
When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you.
If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand."

The verses continue to explain - The spirit of a just man made perfect will not move to shake your hand, because it is contrary to the order of heaven to deceive. The devil as an angel will move to shake your hand and you will feel nothing.

Seriously, I have a question and I pondered on it after reading this verse. The question? If Jesus Christ was the first resurrected being how did angels appear to man and touch them before His death and resurrection?

Who were the three holy men that Abraham entertained? (Genesis 18) He fed them, they ate. We know the resurrected Lord could eat. These holy men also delivered a message from God, that Sarah shall have a son. Who did Jacob wrestle with until the breaking of day? (Genesis 32) He was given a message from God, and his name was called Israel. What angel touched Elijah and said to him, Arise and eat? (1 Kings 19) All these events happened before Jesus Christ was resurrected. They all had to have a physical body, yet were messengers from God.

I thought about this verse.

"I answer, Yes. But there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it.
The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth;
But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord."
(Doctrine and Covenants 130:5-7)

If these messengers from God were not resurrected beings, or spirits what are they? They could only be those that belonged to this earth and now resided in his presence. Then I thought of translated beings like Elijah that was taken up in a whirlwind. (2 Kings 2:11-12) But, Elijah came after Abraham and Jacob, and someone else touched him. Then I remembered Enoch and the entire city of Enoch being translated. They are part of this earth, and people that never died. God received them into his bosom.

"Enoch was twenty-five years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam; and he was sixty-five and Adam blessed him.
And he saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually; and he walked with God three hundred and sixty-five years, making him four hundred and thirty years old when he was translated."
(Doctrine and Covenants 107:48-49)

"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." (Hebrew 11:5)

"And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, ZION IS FLED."
(Moses 7:69)

Feeling like I was finally understanding, I looked for some confirmation that angels include translated beings of flesh and bones.

"There are two kinds of beings in heaven who are called angels: those who are spirits and those who have bodies of flesh and bone. Angels who are spirits have not yet obtained a body of flesh and bone, or they are spirits who have once had a mortal body and are awaiting resurrection. Angels who have bodies of flesh and bone have either been resurrected from the dead or translated."
(Bible Dictionary, Angels)

"He explained the difference between an angel and a ministering spirit; the one a resurrected or translated body, with its spirit ministering to embodied spirits—the other a disembodied spirit, visiting and ministering to disembodied spirits. Jesus Christ became a ministering spirit (while His body was lying in the sepulchre) to the spirits in prison, to fulfill an important part of His mission, without which He could not have perfected His work, or entered into His rest. After His resurrection He appeared as an angel to His disciples. Translated bodies cannot enter into rest until they have undergone a change equivalent to death. Translated bodies are designed for future missions. The angel that appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos was a translated or resurrected body [i.e., personage]. Jesus Christ went in body after His resurrection, to minister to resurrected bodies. There has been a chain of authority and power from Adam down to the present time."
(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 191)

Translated bodies are designed for future missions. That makes so much sense now on who God sent to prophets before Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.

Day 3718

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 34:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 34:5-6

"So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day."

The footnote for sepulchre is for translated beings.

" And when Alma had done this he departed out of the land of Zarahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek. And it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of.

Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying went abroad in the church that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses. But behold, the scriptures saith the Lord took Moses unto himself; and we suppose that he has also received Alma in the spirit, unto himself; therefore, for this cause we know nothing concerning his death and burial."

(Alma 45:18-19)

Moses must have been translated, otherwise how would he have been able to appear with Elias on the mount and be transfigured with Jesus. Peter, James and John witnessed this and were charged not to speak of it until after Jesus' resurrection.

"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him."

(Matthew 17:1-3)

He also appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland temple, April 3, 1836 along with the Savior, Elias, and Elijah.

"After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north."

(Doctrine and Covenants 110:11)

Day 2346

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 11:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 11:4
"And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil."

I read the King James version of the Holy Bible, printed by "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints".  What I love about this version is not only the impressive chapter headers that explain things, and the expansive footnotes, but the inclusions of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. This was a project the prophet was called to work on after translating the Book of Mormon. I check the references all the time and I love how this verse was translated.

JST Luke 11:4 "...And let us not be led unto temptation; but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and power. Amen."

What is so interesting about this is the recent changes another faith's leader made to this verse in the Lord's Prayer, that expresses a similar view as the Joseph Smith Translation. For it is not possible for God to led us into temptation. It is when we turn from God that others, ourselves, even the devil and his angels can do so. For when we are led by God we are led away from temptation. Otherwise we are left to ourselves and of our own choice will go there.

Day 1559

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 24:40-41

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 24:40-41
"Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left."

I know the rapture is a false doctrine, but this sure sounds like what is falsely believed. That the righteous will be raised up and taken from the earth, missing all of the end times. These verses are also found in Luke 17 and it is there that I came to understand their meaning. This is what is found in the Joseph Smith Translation for Luke 17:36-40.

"And they answered and said unto him, Where Lord, shall they be taken?
And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is gathered; or, in other words, whithersoever the saints are gathered, thither will the eagles be gathered together; or, thither will the remainder be gathered together.
This he spake, signifying the gathering of his saints; and of angels descending and gathering the remainder unto them; the one from the bed, the other from the grinding, and the other from the field, whithersoever he listeth.
For verily there shall be new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
And there shall be no unclean thing; for the earth becoming old, even as a garment, having waxed in corruption, wherefore it vanisheth away, and the footstool remaineth sanctified, cleansed from all sin."
(JST Luke 17:36-40)

It reminds me of this what happened to Nephi, son of Helaman. Also Philip after baptizing an eunuch was carried away in the spirit.

"And it came to pass that when Nephi had declared unto them the word, behold, they did still harden their hearts and would not hearken unto his words; therefore they did revile against him, and did seek to lay their hands upon him that they might cast him into prison.
But behold, the power of God was with him, and they could not take him to cast him into prison, for he was taken by the Spirit and conveyed away out of the midst of them.
And it came to pass that thus he did go forth in the Spirit, from multitude to multitude, declaring the word of God, even until he had declared it unto them all,  or sent it forth among all the people.
(Helaman 10:15-17)

"And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."
(Acts 8:39)

Bottom line, I will not worry about what happens during the end time. If the Lord wants to move me to a different location to gather with the saints in can be done.

Adam-ondi-Aham

Day 1528

Today's Favorite Verse: Jonah 3:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Jonah 3:10
"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not."

It is beautiful that the city of Nineveh listened to Jonah and repented. That is exactly what a prophet's voice of warning is for, for us to repent and change our way. The wording of this verse threw me a little so I turned to the Joseph Smith Translation (JST Jonah 3:10) for clarification.

"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way and repented; and God turned away from the evil that he had said that he would upon them."

This felt right for it to be worded this way.

This reminded me of the 8th Article of Faith
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."

Day 1467

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 19:9

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 19:9
"And the evil spirit from the Lord  [which was not of the Lord] was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand."

Multiple times I have read in Samuel the words "and the evil spirit from the Lord".  Each time it just didn't sit right with me. I would turn to the footnote and see the JST (Joseph Smith Translation). It read's instead " the evil spirit which was not of the Lord".  In my heart I know the JST is correct. It is not possible for an evil spirit to come from the Lord. The spirit of God can withdraw from a person, and in its place an evil spirit will reside. It is the person himself that opened himself up to this condition. The Holy Spirit will not reside with the unclean. If the spirit won't reside there then an evil spirit will take up residence. Saul throughout these chapters is full of an evil spirit and he seeks to kill David. That is not of the Lord.

This reminds me of the 8th Articles of Faith
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."


Day 830

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 32:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 32:14

"And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people."

I don't know that verse didn't sit right with me. I wondered if there was something in the Joseph Smith Translation of the bible on it and there was.

"And the Lord said unto Moses, if they will repent of the evil which they have done, I will spare them, and turn away my fierce wrath; but, behold, thou shalt execute judgement upon all that will not repent of this evil this day. Therefore, see thou do this thing that I have commanded thee, or I will execute all that which I had thought to do unto my people."

This reminds me of the 8th Article of Faith.
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."

I don't often feel the need to look at the Joseph Smith Translation of the bible. But, when I do, because something doesn't seem right, it amazes me to find there actually is a translation of that verse. That is a rather curious thing to me. The spirit will guide me when further light is needed.

Day 657

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 5:22-24

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 5:22-24

"And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not, for God took him."

I noticed that it said Enoch walked with God three hundred years before he was taken. Three hundred years is a very long time. I did some scripture chasing and found this verse in Moses 7:21 "And it came to pass that the Lord showed unto Enoch all the inhabitants of the earth; and he beheld, and lo, Zion, in process of time, was taken up into heaven. And the Lord said unto Enoch: Behold mine abode forever."

Yesterday, I was pondering on the process of time it took for someone to apostatize. So today I pondered on the process of time to be translated. Neither action happens over night. 

Hebrews 11:5-6 "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

What a powerful thing faith is. Faith to believe in God is everything, and yet so basic that a little child can comprehend it. Faith that as I seek him, I will find him. Faith that one day that sure testimony will come, that I am walking in God's ways and please him. Faith will become a knowledge that I will live with Him one day. I absolutely do not need to be a translated being like Enoch, to have the same reward of eternal life. Receiving that testimony as he did is what should be sought. What a comfort this brings to me.

Day 580