Today's Favorite Verse: John 11:15

Today's Favorite Verse: John 11:15
"And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him."

When people say "Why does God let bad things happen to good people?" it makes me think of Lazarus. To be sick and die and placed in a grave for 4 days would seem a pretty bad thing. Yet, the Lord called him forth from the grave. How many times has the Lord saved me from the grave and any numbers of trials. All of these experiences have been for my good. They are sacred to me. They have strengthened my faith and belief in Christ and trust in his timing.

Day 4132

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 2:19, 51

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 2:19, 51
"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart."

I pondered on the importance of pondering. Mary was capable of this and twice in this chapter it mentions her pondering things in her heart. Keeping them "in her heart" means she held them close to her. They were sacred experiences. She must have not gone into great details on her experiences with others. Otherwise, I imagine more would have been recorded on these events.

"Luke recorded that after the shepherds’ visit and after finding the 12-year-old Jesus in the temple, Mary pondered the events and sayings, and she kept them “in her heart” (Luke 2:19, 51). Her actions demonstrate the importance of treasuring sacred experiences. While it is vital that we share our testimonies with others, President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that we should ponder our sacred experiences and share them only when we are prompted to do so:
“It is not wise to continually talk of unusual spiritual experiences. They are to be guarded with care and shared only when the Spirit itself prompts you to use them to the blessing of others. …
“I heard President Marion G. Romney once counsel mission presidents and their wives … , ‘I found out that if I talked too lightly of sacred things, thereafter the Lord would not trust" me.’
“We are, I believe, to keep these things and ponder them in our hearts, as Luke said Mary did of the supernal events that surrounded the birth of Jesus” (“The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan. 1983, 53).
(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 15: Luke 1-3")

Day 4099

Today's Favorite Verse: Nahum 1:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Nahum 1:7
"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."

That is a very comforting verse if you trust in the Lord. I have felt Him as my strong hold when in the midst of trouble. You do not need to see Him to know he is there, and mindful of all that you are going through.

Day 4044

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 50:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 50:10
"Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God."

I pondered on this question and what I felt is there is no one that fears the Lord and obeys His servants and yet walks in darkness. It is not possible to be in darkness if you do those two things. You will walk in the light. You would remain faithful and trust in the Lord, and know that His authorized servants speak for Him. How grateful I am for the prophets.

Day 3986

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 112:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 112:7
"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD."

We are going to hear of wars and rumors of war, those are certainly evil tidings. Yet, we are to trust in the Lord. I am drawn again to President Oaks recent words.

“As we experience Satan’s deadly onslaught on morality and the integrity of families, and as we read the prophecies and feel the signs of the times, we cannot doubt that the future holds great sacrifices and challenges for Latter-day Saints individually and for the divinely prescribed work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” he said. “The scriptures speak of perilous times, when men’s hearts will fail them. They also speak of worthy disciples escaping these things, of their standing in holy places and not being moved.”
In these holy temples, Latter-day Saints make covenants with God. This, the prophet explained, is “the way the Lord reminds us to stay worthy of His blessings and to translate the knowledge we receive in the temple into service to our fellowmen.”
“Surely,” President Oaks said, “the times ahead will call for us to remember our temple covenants and to rely on the blessings promised in these houses of the Lord here in Burley and throughout the world.”
“This is His house. This is His work. We are His servants,” the prophet concluded."
(President Dallin H. Oaks, Burley Idaho Temple Dedication, 11 Jan 2026, Church Newsroom, "President Oaks Dedicates the Burley Idaho Temple")

Day 3940

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: Ether 6:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 6:5
"And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind."

I pondered on how we must often walk through fire to get where the Lord needs us to be. For the Jaredites it was being sealed up in a barge for 344 days. They didn't know where they were going, other than a promised land. They commended themselves unto the Lord their God. They sang praised to Him as they journeyed. This made me think of all the pioneers had to pass through to come to our promised land. Persecution was needed in order to drive them away from it and into a place of peace. I have seen the hand of the Lord in many things I have passed through. The lessons I learned, the place that it brings me, were all necessary. We must commend ourselves to the Lord, to be entrusted in His care. Having faith that we will be delivered.

Day 3569

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 12:1, 23

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 12:1, 23
"And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.
Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved."

These were the most important verses to me in this chapter. To put my trust in the Lord, and repent. I am reminded of President Nelson's words this past general conference, that "it is neither to early or too late", the time is now.

"Jesus Christ took upon Himself your sins, your pains, your heartaches, and your infirmities. You do not have to bear them alone! He will forgive you as you repent. He will bless you with what you need. He will heal your wounded soul. As you yoke yourself to Him, your burdens will feel lighter. If you will make and keep covenants to follow Jesus Christ, you will find that the painful moments of your life are temporary. Your afflictions will be “swallowed up in the joy of Christ."
It is neither too early nor too late for you to become a devout disciple of Jesus Christ. Then you will experience fully the blessings of His Atonement. You will also be more effective in helping to gather Israel."
(Russelll M. Nelson, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again", Oct 2024 General Conference)

Day 3519

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 38: 5

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 38: 5
"And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

I know that this is true. I have experienced the Lord's grace and mercy as I have trusted in Him to deliver me out of the midst of my trials.

Day 3482

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 22:2

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 22:2
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation."

This made me think of the hymn "The Lord is My Light". I had to find it and listen to it. So many times hymns say much better what I feel.

The Lord is My Light
The Lord is my light; then why should I fear?
By day and by night his presence is near.
He is my salvation from sorrow and sin;
This blessed assurance the Spirit doth bring.
[Chorus]
The Lord is my light;
He is my joy and my song.
By day and by night
He leads, he leads me along.
The Lord is my light; tho clouds may arise,
Faith, stronger than sight, looks up thru the skies
Where Jesus forever in glory doth reign.
Then how can I ever in darkness remain?
[Chorus]
The Lord is my light;
He is my joy and my song.
By day and by night
He leads, he leads me along.
The Lord is my light; the Lord is my strength.
I know in his might I’ll conquer at length.
My weakness in mercy he covers with pow’r,
And, walking by faith, I am blest ev’ry hour.
[Chorus]
The Lord is my light;
He is my joy and my song.
By day and by night
He leads, he leads me along.
The Lord is my light, my all and in all.
There is in his sight no darkness at all.
He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King.
With Saints and with angels his praises I’ll sing.
[Chorus]
The Lord is my light;
He is my joy and my song.
By day and by night
He leads, he leads me along.

Day 3393

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 7:10

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 7:10
"Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light?"

You cannot walk in darkness if you walk with the Lord. Of course, we don't always know or see everything that is happening, but that is not darkness. That is walking in faith and trust with the Lord. Knowing that he will guide the path in front of us, and open doors for us. It made me thing of shadows and the picture of a match. There is no shadow behind the flame.

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
(John 8:12)

Day 3378

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

I can appreciate what Paul is saying but I cannot go to the depths of glorying or taking pleasure in my infirmities. Maybe in time I can, but for now I am satisfied to appreciate my trials and what I have learned from them. I have come to see "enduring to the end" as the best part of the gospel. Where we come to have a personal relationship with the Lord as we walk with him through the fire. How he makes me strong when I am weak. How He teaches me patience and trust that all will be overcome through His mercy, and according to His will and time.

Day 3249

Today's Favorite Verse: Nahum 1:6-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Nahum 1:6-7

"Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."

Who can stand? Those that put their trust in the Lord. He knows you and will watch over you when all his indignation and anger is poured out. That is the great and dreadful day of the Lord. The time to practice and prepare for it is now. It's in those personal moments of trouble that we learn who is our strength and with us. This is the greatest part of the doctrine of Christ, to endure to the end. It is where we come to know the Savior. If our trials are not bringing us closer to Him, then we are hanging on our own cross suffering. He already did that for us. He lives, he loves us, he will be there to strengthen us, as we turn to him.

"And we know that all men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God."

(Doctrine and Covenants 20:29)

"And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day."

(3 Nephi 27:6)

"And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them."

(Doctrine and Covenants 10:69)

"Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days."

(Doctrine and Covenants 24:8)

Day 3060

Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 7:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 7:5-6

"Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house."

As I pondered on this I realized it was saying "Trust not in the arm of flesh". Yes, I understand the prophesy that even families will be divided against each other, but it really boils down to where should your trust be. It should always be to God, for he will never forsake you if you remain faithful to Him.

"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."

(Jeremiah 17:5)

"Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost."

(2 Nephi 28:31)

"The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—"

(Doctrine and Covenants 1:19)

When the days of these prophesies are fulfilled the only place of peace is Zion. If you haven't sought God long before that you wouldn't know where to find it.

"And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.

And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another."

(Doctrine and Covenants 45:68-69)

Day 3059

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 2:27-28

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 2:27-28

"Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah."

I was thinking about having faith today, and how there is great peace of mind in the midst of what seems like dark days ahead. There is no fear when you trust the Lord. Money, politics, and material things cannot bring peace of mind or comfort in sorrow. If those are your gods then in hard times will they save you?

Day 2906

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 37:28, 36

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 37:28, 36

"But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.

Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

Hezekiah turned to Isaiah for counsel and prayers to the Lord for deliverance and through it all is told God is aware of what is happening. Isaiah prophesies that the Assyrians will be destroyed and angel come during the night and smote the 185,000 in the camp. That is a miracle. It is best to stay on the Lord's side and listen to his prophets.

Day 2875

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 125:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 125:1

"They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever."

I pondered on how as long as you retain your trust in God you will not faultier. It is only when you no longer trust Him that you can.

Day 2762

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 112:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 112:7

"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD."

This reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend of mine this week. They were telling me about an issue they had on the outside of their house. They saw a neighbor had the same issue so they went to speak to them. The neighbor put their hands to their ears and said "I wish you hadn't told me, I don't want to hear things like this, because I cannot afford to fix it." My friend thought that such odd behavior, why wouldn't someone want to know about an issue that should be fixed? "You cannot put your head in the sand and make it go away." Then as the story progresses my friend tells me this neighbor mentioned they were getting assistance from the church for food, and pay their utility bills. My friend didn't understand why this neighbor couldn't work they were perfectly healthy. Yes, this was totally gossiping and I was a little taken back on what to say. Finally, the words came. I suggested that their neighbor maybe able to physically work, but not mentally able to do so. Finally, the lights came on and they realized having observed other signs that would indicate this was the case. They then sheepishly said to me, "I guess I will need to be really careful about what I say to them." I just smiled.

I know when we are mentally and emotionally stressed it's so hard to hear bad news, or evil tidings. I have also found in those moments that trusting in the Lord will help us get through it. The more we practice this the time will come when our heart knows He is there for us, and there is no need to fear.

Day 2749

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 56:4, 11

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 56:4, 11

"In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me."

Good advise that was worth repeating twice in this chapter. This made me think of some news this week that made some people so paranoid, speaking of conspiracies and the government coming to get you. That is living in fear of man and what he can do to you. That happens when your eye is off the Lord and focused on worldly things. This is how the adversary works. If you obey God's laws, and are honest with your dealings with your fellow man you have nothing to fear. Truth will prevail when we trust in the Lord.

Day 2693

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 20:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 20:7

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."

People really haven't changed much over the millenniums. Men today still trust more in the works of their own hands, than trusting in the Lord.

Day 2657