Today's Favorite Verse: John 6:48, 51, 53, 56

Today's Favorite Verse: John 6:48, 51, 53, 56
"I am that bread of life.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."

As I am reading this chapter I kept hearing in my mind the hymn "Bread of Life, Living Water". We need to internalize all that the Savior is. That is the eating of the bread of life and living water.

“To eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ was and is to believe in and accept Him as the literal Son of God and Savior of the world, and to obey His commandments. By these means only may the Spirit of God become an abiding part of man’s individual being, even as the substance of the food he eats is assimilated with the tissues of his body.
“… The figure used by Jesus—that of eating His flesh and drinking His blood as typical of unqualified and absolute acceptance of Himself as the Savior of men—is of superlative import; for thereby are affirmed the divinity of His Person, and the fact of His preexistent and eternal Godship. The sacrament of the Lord’s supper, established by the Savior on the night of His betrayal, perpetuates the symbolism of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, by the partaking of bread and wine in remembrance of Him. Acceptance of Jesus as the Christ implies obedience to the laws and ordinances of His gospel.”
(James E. Talmage, "Jesus the Christ", 342–43)

Bread of Life, Living Water
In the Garden, Jesus suffered
Ev’ry sin and ev’ry woe—
Bleeding drops from ev’ry pore,
That we might forgiveness know.
Bread of Life, Living Water,
Feed my soul, fill my heart.
Lord, give me new life in Thee
And make me whole—complete and holy—
Bound to Thee eternally.

Jesus sacrificed His body
On the cross in bitter pain—
Freely gave His life for us
So that we would live again.
Bread of Life, Living Water,
Feed my soul, fill my heart.
Lord, give me new life in Thee
And make me whole—complete and holy—
Bound to Thee eternally.

Now I come before the altar,
Off’ring Him my broken heart,
Seeking for the precious gifts
His Atonement can impart.
Bread of Life, Living Water,
Feed my soul, fill my heart.
Lord, give me new life in Thee
And make me whole—complete and holy—
Bound to Thee eternally.

Day 4127

Today's Favorite Verse: John 2:7-9

Today's Favorite Verse: John 2:7-9
"Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,"

The first miracle spoken of in Jesus' ministry. I'm sure there were others before this otherwise His mother, Mary would not have sought his help with this. What I pondered on was the mention of the servants knowing the water had been made into wine. After-all they had been the ones to fill the pots. It made me think of the miracles Christ's followers will witness today and know the source of them and recognize it them for what they are. Miracles can be happening around us, but we can be totally obvious to them. When we are servants of the Lord we will know and see them.

Day 4123

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 47:1, 5

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 47:1, 5
"Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over."

I was going to look for Elder Renlund's conference talk where he spoke of "waters to swim in". Where we immerse ourselves in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the healing that comes from temple blessings. Then I found this interesting quote about the water.

"The Prophet Joseph Smith proclaimed: “Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, &c; and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance.” (Teachings, p. 286.) The waters issuing forth from under the temple and the healing of the Dead Sea may occur when the Lord Himself sets foot upon the Mount of Olives, causing this mountain to divide in two and create a large valley.
(Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi, "Prophecies of the Restoration", (27-34)

Day 4026

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 47:22

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 47:22

"And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.

And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD."

In this chapter I usually focus on the waters to swim in. This time something else jumped out at me because I had just finished reading Alma 35.

"Now the people of the Zoramites were angry with the people of Ammon who were in Jershon, and the chief ruler of the Zoramites, being a very wicked man, sent over unto the people of Ammon desiring them that they should cast out of their land all those who came over from them into their land.

And he breathed out many threatenings against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words; therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants."

(Alma 35:8-9)

It really struck me with how compassionate the people of Ammon were, and now I see the Lord's counsel to the tribes of Israel towards the stranger among them. It made me really sad to reflect on the anger and hostility I have seen towards the stranger among us, and the refugees that need assistance. We have lost our compassion as a nation. We could never get to the waters to swim in if charity and compassion is not in our hearts. Then I looked at pictures and saw not everyone feels that way. This is the pure love of Christ.

Day 3008

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 20:8,10-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 20:8,10-12

"Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them."

I looked for what Moses did that angered the Lord. He was told to speak to the rock. Moses instead spoke to the people. He then makes the mistake of telling them, must he fetch them water. He implied it was his works and not God's. Then he hits the rock, which he wasn't told to do. I can imagine the entire spirit of this miracle would have been different to those that witnessed it if Moses had only spoken to the rock to bring forth water. It makes me think of how Jesus healed the blind and lepers. It was done quietly, not with anger or for show. I did notice that even though Moses and Aaron disobeyed, blessings still came to those receiving water. Ordinances are not voided if the vehicle is unworthy, yet still holds the key.

Day 2296

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 17:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 17:2

"Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?

"Did chide with" HEB strove with, or complained to

"Tempt the Lord?" HEB put the Lord to the test, TG Doubt; Test

I sat and pondered on what would have been the right thing for me to do if I had been one of the children of Israel? The problem it appears with the children of Israel is they expected Moses to fix their problems. They expected miracles, not with faith but as a way to test God. Their connection to God was through Moses, without expecting anything to be required of them.

What would have been required of me? I would have prayed, not just send me water, but asking how do I obtain water for me and my family. For that is all that I have stewardship over in the answer I receive. I would have expected some work on my part for the solution that comes.

In fact when Moses ask the Lord what to do he is given specific instructions on where to go and which rock to smite for water to come out. It was a miracle but it took faith to do what was required. "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it be right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right." (Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-8)

Day 2226

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 1:20-22

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 1:20-22

"And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth."

I noticed something new in the creation story. Birds come from the water. In the verses after this God speaks of the other creatures that come from the earth. So there are separate elements from which life is created. In thinking that a day is a creation period. I could also see evolution involved in the process.

Day 2160

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 127:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 127:2

"And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God knoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it."

This chapter is an epistle from Joseph Smith as he was forced to flee from his enemies. In it he instructs the saints on the method of baptism for the dead. Instead what I focused on was his reference of "deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me". It reminded me of Ezekiel 47 and the water that issued out from the house of the Lord at the south side of the alter. First there was water to the ankles, then to the knees, up to the loins and finally waters to swim in. What a difference there is to wade through water and then freely swim. Is that not how we immerse ourselves in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is a struggle until you totally immerse yourself and reach deep water and swim.

Joseph had trials since he was a boy. He had finally reach the point that he could glory in tribulation because they did not weigh him down or let them hold him back. He had turned himself over freely to the Lord and trusted him. Joseph was now swimming in living waters. What he then goes on to instruct the saints in becomes temple ordinances and blessings for those on both sides of the veil. Blessings that will flow from the temples to heal families and give them life. Temples can help prepare us to swim in deep waters, and glory in tribulation.

Day 2130

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 33:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 33:8

"Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them."

I feel like I've been living like this for ages now. Even more so after the pandemic, and now the riots. I would be a very rich person, if I could have a penny for every time I have resisted commenting on something that has been posted online. Truly the spirit is indeed richer to take my concerns to the Lord and he comforts me. I am warned over and over again to stay out of it, say nothing. Rarely, am I impressed to comment. I am learning to be patient and wait for truth to come out which only time will tell. I am learning to let the spirit guide me over the muddy fast waters. I am learning the wisdom in obedience.

Day 1891

Today's Favorite Verse: John 14:27

Today's Favorite Verse: John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

This is a promise that never fails me. When I truly turn to the Lord for comfort and peace he's always there. I am never alone. What comfort that gives my heart.

I found this treasure of a video of Howard W. Hunter telling the story of Jesus walking on the water, the importance of not taking our eyes off Christ.



Day 1584

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 14:32

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 14:32
"And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased."

I was reading the story of Jesus walking on the wind tossed sea. Peter calls to him and is told to Come. Peter begins to walk on water but takes his eyes off of Jesus and becomes afraid. Then he sinks and cries out for the Lord to save him. Jesus stretched out his hand and catches him. When they make it back into the ship the wind ceased. It is the wind ceasing that caught my eye this time.

All along the Lord could have calmed the sea. He didn't need to walk on the water while it was stormed tossed. But why did He? I think its an example of the trials we pass through in life. The Lord is there and experiences the elements with us. He knows exactly what we are going through. He calls to us and catches us. What I need to do is call and reach for Him. In Him I will find peace and rest from the storms. The Lord uses the storms for me to learn as the disciples said "Of a truth thou art the Son of God." If there had been no storm but calm waters Peter would have never taken his eyes off Jesus as he walked to him. The wind tossed water is an important element in coming to know who Christ is.


Day 1518

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 47:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 47:5
"Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over."

I always loved the imagery of waters to swim in. I have crossed water up to my ankles and water up to the knees and loins and there is always a pull against your body as you try to walk. But once the water is deep enough to swim in there is freedom and joy. I think that is the way with living water, especially that which comes from the temple. Once you fully immerse yourself in the gospel there are waters to swim in. The waters envelopes you as the spirit always to be with you. There is a peace that cannot be comprehended any other way.

Day 1424

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 27:26

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 27:26
"Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas."

The thought that came to me was "who is manning the boat". Whoever is at the helm is directing it. Just like the rowers that take the boat along. They can take me into deep water and I can be broken up. Or, it can be the Savior that makes me swim in deep waters that heal me. My responsibility is to know who's boat I am in. Is the Savior at the helm of my boat or is it me?

Day 1404

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 5:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 5:15
"Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running water out of thine own well."

I know this chapter is giving warning on being faithful to your wife and not running with immoral women. But, I think it runs deeper in meaning, just like the counsel in the bible on divorce. It is also a reference I feel on being faithful to the church. When I read this verse it made me think about all the rich resources the church has given me to learn the gospel, these are the waters I need to drink deeply from. My own well of resources. This water is pure and of the best source. As I taste of other waters it can lead to being unfaithful to the knowledge that has been given.

Day 1208

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 14:7-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 14:7-9
"For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant."

I know Job is speaking on the resurrection but I pondered on something else. I thought of our tree out back and how even though it was cut down little trees grew from those roots. It was water that brought it to life. This made me ponder on how Christ is the living waters. I thought of my trials and how things have been taken away. Yet the Lord has compensated me, by either something to replace it, or the pain from missing it to be removed. There is always hope for a brighter day, when I depend on the living waters to sustain me. He can breath new life and blossom that which I thought was lost.


Day 1025

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 23:15-16

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 23:15-16
"And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!
And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord."

In battle these three mighty men risked their lives and went without command to Bethlehem to bring back its waters to David. Then he doesn't drink it, but pours it out. What a waste I thought. Was that not like a slap in the face for the service they offered? I just had to sit and ponder of what just happened. Then I saw that David was so moved by their bravery that the highest honor that water could be given was to the Lord. If I was one of those men I should be honored to have that water poured out to the Lord. Sitting and pondering on this made me realize I don't always see the gift, or the act of receiving a gift, with its true intent.


Day 865

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 20:8, 11-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 20:8, 11-12
"Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts to drink.
And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

This appears to be the second time Moses smote a rock with a rod and water gushed forth. The first time in Exodus 17 the Lord told him to smite the rock. This second time he was told to speak to the rock. Moses disobeyed the Lord and instead of speaking to the rock he smote it with his rod. For this Moses and Aaron could not enter into the promised land. Not only that, but Aaron is stripped of his garments and priesthood and they are given to his son Eleazar. Then Aaron dies.

I sat and pondered on how even though Moses and Aaron disobeyed, a miracle still happened. Water still gushed from the rock. They did exactly what the Lord had told them in an earlier situation to do. But, they were disobedient in doing what the Lord commanded them now to do. As I was searching the scriptures I saw a lot of references to Moses hitting the rock and water coming forth. Why was this instant so different and caused Aaron to die?

Then my eyes were opened, and this is what I came to understand. The Lord wished to bless his people with water to preserve their lives. He wanted them to receive living waters. Even if the vehicle through which the blessings comes is disobedient or unworthy, those that are on the receiving end are not denied their blessing. If someone performs an ordinance unworthily, having sinned, but still held the keys, it does not mean the ordinance is void. If the priest that blesses the sacrament in church is unworthy to do so, I will not be denied the blessing of having taken it. I will receive the living waters. The person that answers for it, is the one who was disobedient, and performed the ordinance unworthily. Amen to the priesthood of that man. In pondering all this I see how merciful the Lord truly is.


Day 712

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 19:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 19:9
"And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin."

Footnote: Water of separation: IE water for removal of impurity.

I knew that for some reason a red heifer was important to the Jews trying to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem today. I had assumed that a pure red heifer was a symbol of Christ. What I didn't know was the ritual it was to be used in. It was for purification after touching the dead. The pure red heifer was killed and totally burned to ashes. Then a small amount of ash was place in water for the ritual to become clean afterwards.

A person that touched the dead needed to purify himself with the water of separation on the third day and then on the seventh day he is clean. So the purification with a red heifer was removing the impurities from them. That must be talking about the Savior's atonement and taking upon himself our sins. Where in the garden of Gethsemane he bleed drops of blood from every pour. Then three days after his death he was resurrected. He overcame death, the very thing the people were trying to become clean from.

The desire to perform this ordinance once again must be to purify themselves before the Savior's coming. Which really is his second coming. The way I today become clean is through faith in Christ, repenting of my sins, and the ordinance of baptism. Every seven days on the Sabbath, I take the sacrament to renew my baptismal covenants and become clean once again. The fear of death is no more, for Christ has overcome that separation. He is the living water that makes me clean.


Day 711