Today's Favorite Verse: Ezra 2:59, 62-63

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezra 2:59, 62-63
"And these were they which went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father’s house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim."

This was interesting. It wasn't a matter of the genealogies being kept or not. The issue was intermarriages with aliens, those without the faith. Those marriages were not recorded. This is how they lost their father's house. They were polluted and put from the priesthood. They needed to stand before a priest who with the Urim and Thummim would be able to determine what house they were from. When I think about how many generations removed from Abraham's family and the tribes of Israel we are, we have the same thing happening today. We go before a patriarch that will declare in our patriarchal blessing which tribe of Israel we belong to.

Day 3879

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 28:7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 28:7-8
"And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all."

The ephod was fastened to the Breastplate of Judgment. It had 12 precious stones and the Urim and Thummin. David asks the high priest to inquire of the Lord through it, and he immediately receives an answer. Saul had tried earlier and the Lord would not answer him through it.

"And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets."
(1 Samuel 28:6)

Being denied Saul seeks out a women with a familiar spirit. She pretends to see Samuel and tells Saul what he says. That doesn't mean Samuel was summoned by the witch of Endor. It means Satan can tell you things that are true but its the one percent that isn't that will lead to spiritual death. In this case for Saul it also lead to physical death.

Day 3833

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 27:20-23

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 27:20-23
"And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.
And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:
And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses."

Moses asked that the Lord set a man over the congregation, so they are not like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord called Joshua the son of Nun. Moses is then instructed to lay his hands upon Joshua and give him some of his honor. Which means a delegation of responsibility. He is also ordained and given authority by the laying on of hands. The congregation is to witness this, that allows them to know who has been called to leadership. I love that the use of the Urim and Thummim is described here.

Day 3793

Today's Favorite Verse: Abraham 3:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Abraham 3:15
"And the Lord said unto me: Abraham, I show these things unto thee before ye go into Egypt, that ye may declare all these words."

Abraham is first shown the order of the sun, moon and stars through the Urim and Thummim the Lord gave him. He is instructed in the order and set timing and revolutions of the planets until you reach Kolob which is nearest to God. In God's time a day equals a thousand years for man. Then the Lord put his hands on Abraham's eyes and showed him the eternal nature of spirits, pre-earth life and foreordination. What I pondered on was this was all shown to him so he could declare these words when he went into Egypt. It made we wonder how much astronomy Abraham was able to bring to them?

Day 3740

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 17:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 17:1
"Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, which were given to the brother of Jared upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord face to face, and the miraculous directors which were given to Lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the Red Sea."

This reminded me of a video on the lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon. It told a story of where the Nephites received the Urim and Thummim given to the brother of Jared. King Mosiah obviously had them, but how did he get them?

Fayette Lapham, a Palmyra resident, reported hearing a narrative from Joseph Smith Sr. on how the Nephites got the Jaredite interpreters. They spoke in 1829 but Lapham didn't record it until 1870. Some of the interview is questionable but then parts made sense and fill in what was missing in the 116 pages. After coming to the new world the Nephites were on an exodus, and had a portable tabernacle with them. It is supposed this maybe when the first king Mosiah was warned to flee out of the land of Nephi and led to the land of Zarahemla. They were lead by the Liahona to an object but didn't know what it was or now to use it. He went into the tabernacle to inquire of the Lord.

"They also found something of which they did not know the use, but when they went into the tabernacle a voice said, "What have you got in your hand, there?" They replied that they did not know, but had come to inquire; when the voice said "Put it on our face, and put your face in a skin, and you will see what it is." They did so, and could see everything of the past, present, and future; and it was the same spectacles that Joseph found with the gold places. The gold ball stopped here and ceased to direct them any further;"
(Book of Mormon Evidence, "Joseph Smith Sr. Spoke about the Translation with Fayette Lapham", by Rian Nelson, 31 Mar 2022)

Covering the face with an animal skin to see through the interpreters makes a whole lot of sense now why Joseph but his face into an hat made of beaver skin to translate the Book of Mormon. How they found the interpreters and then the Liahona stopped working answers questions we have wondered on.

Start at 16:30

Day 3606

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 3:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 3:4-5

"For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days."

I knew what the ephod was, it was worn by a high priest and prophets. This colorful waistcoat with shoulder pieces and girdle contained stones engraved with the names of the 12 tribes. Inside the ephod was placed the Urim and Thummim. Which was prepared by the Lord to assist man in obtaining revelation and in translating languages. David describes asking questions and receiving answers through it. I didn't know what the teraphim was so I looked that up in the Bible Dictionary.

"Teraphim - Images of the size and form of a man used from patriarchal times and onwards in worship and for magical purposes both in Israel and in Babylon. To use teraphim was probably not to worship strange gods but to worship the true God in a corrupt manner."

I went back and read in the Bible Dictionary about the ephod and found "The ephod at one time became the object of idolatrous worship." So basically both the ephod and teraphim were possibly religious items that were perverted and corrupted and used in a manner not intended. Until the point the Lord removed them from the people.

This reminded me of what was said in the Book of Mormon about what is called seer stones, interpreters, or the Urim and Thummim.

"Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer."

(Mosiah 8:13)

The Urim and Thummim was returned in the latter-days. They were used by Joseph Smith in translating the Book of Mormon from the gold plates, and receiving revelation for our day.

"Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted “seers” in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book."

(Joseph Smith - History 1:35)

After Joseph's translation was completed the Urim and Thummim was returned to the angel Moroni along with the Gold Plates. They will come forth again when the sealed two-third portion of the plates are translated. I hope I live to see that day.

Day 3024

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 21:1

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 21:1

"Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites."

I wonder if David used the ephod or Urim and Thummim to inquire of the Lord? It's interesting how many times in the scriptures that famine lasts three or three and a half years, and if really bad seven years. Famine is used to bring people to remembrance of the Lord, and a voice of warning to repent.

"O Lord, do not suffer that this people shall be destroyed by the sword; but O Lord, rather let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee."

(Helaman 11:4)

"How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes, and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind, and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of judgment, and by the voice of mercy all the day long, and by the voice of glory and honor and the riches of eternal life, and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would not!"

(Doctrine and Covenants 43:25)

Day 2447

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 23:9-11

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 23:9-11

"And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down."

As I'm reading this I'm thinking is sure sounds like David is having a question and answer session with the Lord. It reminded me of the Urim and Thummim that Joseph Smith, Jr. would use for translating and inquiring of the Lord. (see Joseph Smith History 1:35) David is receiving direction from God on where to go to keep away from Saul. I wondered if the ephod is a Urim and Thummim? I knew this priestly garment had precious stones in it but I never heard it called a Urim and Thummim. I checked the bible dictionary and this is what it says.

"Part of the dress of the high priest (Ex. 28:6, etc.), shaped like a waistcoat with two shoulder pieces and a girdle. It was of richly variegated material, blue, purple, and scarlet. On the shoulder pieces were two onyx stones on which were engraved the names of the 12 tribes. To the ephod was fastened the Breastplate of Judgment. An ephod of linen seems to have become the dress of all priests (1 Sam. 22:18). It was also worn by Samuel (1 Sam. 2:18) and by David when he brought up the Ark (2 Sam. 6:14). The ephod at one time became the object of idolatrous worship (Judg. 8:27; 17:5). The name may possibly in these last passages have been used to denote an image of some kind. See also Gideon."

(Bible Dictionary, Ephod)

So next question is "What is the breastplate of judgment". It sure reminds of how the Urim and Thummin fit into silver bows fastened to a breastplate so Joseph Smith could translate with it. I couldn't find anything on the church website regarding this breastplate of judgment. I had to turn to google, which I really don't like to do.

"The breastplate of Judgment also known as the priestly breastplate was a sacred breastplate worn by the the High Priest for the Israelites, according to the Book of Exodus. In the biblical account, the breastplate is termed the breastplate of judgment, because the Urim and Thummim, by which the High Priest checked the will of God in any important matter that would affect the nation, were placed within it (Exodus 28:15 )."

(Creation Wiki, Encyclopedia of Creation Science, Breastplate of judgment)

"The twelve precious stones with which the breastplate was decorated contained the names of the twelve tribes; each name being fully engraved on one stone, in order that, when the high priest came before Him, God might be mindful of the piety of the patriarchs... In addition to the names of the twelve tribes, the stones also contained, at the head, the names Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and at the end the words: ="tribes of God")....These words could not be omitted from the breastplate, since the whole Hebrew alphabet had to be included, in order that, on consulting the Urim and Thummim, the high priest might be enabled to form words from the different colors of the individual letters on the stones of the breastplate, and hence might be able to answer questions put to him."

(Jewish Encyclopedia, "Breastplate of the High Priest")

After reading this I did find more in the Bible Dictionary on the church website under Breastplate.

"(1) The front part of a soldier’s dress, worn for protection. In this sense Isaiah and Paul spoke of a “breastplate of righteousness,” which all saints should possess, protecting the vital organs against the evil things of life (Isa. 59:17; Eph. 6:14).

(2) The high priest in the law of Moses wore a breastplate as part of his sacred attire. This was called the “breastplate of judgment” (Ex. 28:13–30; 39:8–21). It was made of linen, very colorfully arranged, bearing 12 precious stones and the Urim and Thummim. Other references to a breastplate are found in 1 Thes. 5:8; Rev. 9:9; D&C 17:1; JS—H 1:35, 42, 52."

Now that I was headed in the right direction I found a lot more on the church website and spent more time reading various articles there. This piece of information was all very interesting to learn. I had always glossed over the colorful priestly attire. Didn't really understand all its significance. Now I will be more attentive when I see the ephod being mentioned. Does give me pause on how much I may have missed when I skip over things like this while reading. Studying the scriptures is a lifetime pursuit.

Day 2418

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 130:7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 130:7-8

"But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all thing for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord.

The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim"

I reflected on a time when I had great sorrow, because I had traveled and been somewhere a whole month, but was never able to go so much as to the ocean and dip my toe in it. As I sat on the plane ride home I was so grateful that there was no companion next to me, because I silently cried. Then this verse came to me and I realize that all the things I missed will one day be made up. That I really will never miss out on anything, because one day I will be able to see the past as it really was. Since then I have been comforted about the lack of being able to travel or attend events. If it really was important in the scheme of things, I will one day see it better than if I had seen and experienced it with my natural eye. Even if I don't have the doctrine or understanding right, I am grateful for the peace and comfort it gave me over the matter.

Day 2133

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 130:7-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 130:7-9

"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, future, and are continually before the Lord.

The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim. 

This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ's."

Today is my temple day and while I was sitting in an endowment session my mind wandered over the beauties of this earth. Then I thought of all the places I have never seen and probably will never get to. I had a sadness come over me as I always do when I think of such things. There is so much beauty in this earth and I would love to appreciate all of God's creation, but I know I will never have the money to travel and go there. I shall leave this earth and never have the chance in my body to know what it feels like to see a volcano, travel upon the vast ocean, or look down the grand canyon. Will the end times destruction erase the man made attractions I have never seen, like the Eiffel Tower or Disneyland? There is so much beauty on this earth and I know I will miss it. I recalled somewhere in the scriptures the earth being turned into glass and the thought made me sad to not see mountains, hills, streams and all that green. I even thought about little children born in abject poverty that never witnessed even the amount of beauty I have seen. I already felt bad, now I felt even worse for them. 

While I sat thinking about this a thought came to me "God doesn't take away, he gives you more." I didn't understand how glass could be more beautiful than the beauties of this earth. Then as my habit, after the session I went into the celestial room to settle in a favor chair and read my scriptures. What do you know, this chapter talked about the very thing my mind had been wondering on. That was no coincident, the spirit seems to like to teach me things this way. I learned the place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummin, a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things in their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before him. One day I can live in such a place. I thought if my God can have anything he wants and he wants that, then it must be far better than what I have. 

What I hadn't recalled earlie was the part about the past, present and future continually before the Lord. I felt like I was being told, "See you won't miss anything. You will see far more than what the time of your life existence could have ever shown you. It will be presented in such away that will be more real than what is possible now. The poor among the earth that follow Christ will obtain celestial glory. It isn't less, it's more. When you loose your life for Christ's sake the return is a hundred fold." I know to some the sadness over not being able to travel may seem trivial to them. But, this experience has brought me such comfort and peace over the whole matter.

Day 549