Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 132:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 132:13
"And everything that is in the world, whether it be ordained of men, by thrones, or principalities, or powers, or things of name, whatsoever they may be, that are not by me or by my word, saith the Lord, shall be thrown down, and shall not remain after men are dead, neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the Lord your God."

This is the ultimate "you can't take it with you". Everything of this world will burn. In the last few days I've heard multiple times, from various people, the thought of basically what is the real world. In reference to going to the temple and then leaving the "real world" behind you. Or leaving the temple to go back into the "real world". This perspective was wrong. What is "real" is all that is taking place in the temple. The outside world is temporary, not lasting, not eternal. It's almost like being in make believe. I've pondered on how others have been trying to describe this. It really is a paradigm shift.

“Time in the temple puts everything into an eternal frame,” she said. “What we experience inside the temple is real and really important.”
(Wendy Nelson, "Syracuse temple dedication" 8 Jun 2025; Church News "President Nelson dedicates Syracuse Utah Temple, 'a sacred place of revelation')

Day 3721

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 116:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 116:1
"Spring Hill is named by the Lord Adam-ondi-Ahman, because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet."

With all the talk of preparing for the second coming of Jesus Christ I wonder which appearance they are speaking of? There will be several preliminary appearances before Jesus' final, glorious return.

“Before the Lord Jesus descends openly and publicly in the clouds of glory, attended by all the hosts of heaven; before the great and dreadful day of the Lord sends terror and destruction from one end of the earth to the other; before he stands on Mount Zion, or sets his feet on Olivet, or utters his voice from an American Zion or a Jewish Jerusalem; before all flesh shall see him together; before any of his appearances, which taken together comprise the second coming of the Son of God—before all these, there is to be a secret appearance to selected members of his Church. He will come in private to his prophet and to the apostles then living. Those who have held keys and powers and authorities in all ages from Adam to the present will also be present”
(Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man (Salt Lake City, Deseret Book Company, 1985), 578–579.)

I do wonder if Jesus Christ has already made this first appearance. These first two appearances are to prepare us to prepare the world for His Second Coming. The messages of preparation from the prophet and leaders of the church have been more frequent and bolder than I have ever heard in my lifetime.

"So, now a question as I conclude: What if you learned that the Savior had already returned to this earth—that He, as part of His Second Coming, had already met with some of His true followers in several marvelous, large gatherings—gatherings about which the world, including CNN and the blogosphere, knew nothing. If you found out that the Savior was already on the earth, what would you desperately want to do today, and what would you be willing and ready to do tomorrow?"
(Wendy Nelson, "An Evening with President Russell M. Nelson" (devotional, Brigham Young University, Hawaii, January 10, 2016) Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults)

All I know I am listening to the prophet and attending the temple as frequently as possible. It would not surprise me to find that is where he appears to His saints.

Day 3705

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 3:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 3:1-2
"And again my brethren, I would call your attention, for I have somewhat more to speak unto you; for behold, I have things to tell you concerning that which is to come.
And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God. And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before me."

This made me think of this.
"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)

I also thought about President Russell M. Nelson and how he has received revelation in the night. I grew up thinking the restoration of the gospel was complete. It wasn't until President Nelson became prophet that I understood it was ongoing and much more is to come.

"Ponder these three truths:
1. The Restoration is a process, not an event, and will continue until the Lord comes again.
2. The ultimate objective of the gathering of Israel is to bring the blessings of the temple to God’s faithful children.
3. As we seek how to accomplish that objective more effectively, the Lord reveals more insights. The ongoing Restoration needs ongoing revelation."
(Russell M. Nelson, "The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation", Oct 2021 General Conference)

I love this video where Sister Wendy Nelson described what happens as President Nelson receives revelation or visitations in the night.

"I am a witness by being present, and I’m a witness by being absent, that the Lord indeed instructs His prophet...Sometimes the Lord has me stay close to my husband when he is receiving instructions. My husband will say during the night, “OK dear, it’s happening.” I just remain quiet and then soon he's sitting up at the side of the bed writing, now with a lighted pen that someone gave him. It’s pretty cute. The number of nighttime messages to him, since becoming President of the Church, have increased exponentially. It's incredible.
It was an early Saturday morning, and I could feel I was supposed to get out of bed. I wasn't finished sleeping, I didn't want to get out of bed, but I could feel, “Move out of bed now.” So I went down and did some family history research. Two hours later, my husband emerged from our bedroom and said, “Wendy, you won't believe what’s been happening for two hours. The Lord has given me detailed instruction about a process I am to follow.” Sometimes it's just two lines, I never look at it, he’ll just hold it up and show me. I just think, those are private messages to him and I would never look."
(Sister Wendy Nelson, "My Witness | Sister Wendy Nelson," video, 0:00 and 1:20, YouTube, posted by Church News, March 11, 2019)

Day 3418

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 24:36-38

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 24:36-38

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,"

I love it when a prophet gives the interpretation of a scripture so it is clear to understand. The prophet Joseph Smith did just that with this verse.

"An example of this was his use of Amos 3:7 to refute speculation about the date of the Second Coming. In the early 1840s, Baptist William Miller stirred considerable national interest with his prediction that the Second Coming would occur in 1843. When one of Miller’s followers claimed to have seen the “sign of the Son of Man” as predicted in Matthew 24, Joseph replied: “He has not seen the sign of the Son of Man, as foretold by Jesus; neither has any man … for the Lord hath not shown me any such sign; and as the prophet saith, so it must be—‘Surely the Lord God will do nothing but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.’ (See Amos 3:7.) Therefore hear this, O earth: The Lord will not come to reign over the righteous, in this world, in 1843, nor until everything for the Bridegroom is ready.” Of the Savior’s words that no man knows the day or the hour of the coming of the Son of Man (see Matt. 24:36), the Prophet asked: “Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations? Oh, no, He spoke in the present tense. No man that was then living upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour. But He did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should not know the day or the hour. No, for this would be in flat contradiction with other scripture. For the prophet says that God will do nothing but what He will reveal unto His servants the prophets. Consequently, if it is not made known to the prophets, it will not come to pass.”

(Ensign, "The Prophet Joseph Smith's Use of the Old Testament", Aug 2002)

Does the prophet today know when the second coming will be? I don't know, but either way it will be according to how God works through his prophets. It does make me wonder what detailed instructions President Nelson was told by the Lord for over two hours. I know we are being prepared for the second coming.

Fun note, when I see Noah written as Noe I can't help but to think of Nelson, Oaks and Eyring today. Keep your eye on the prophet and be ready.

Day 3112

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 132:7-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 132:7-9

"We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.

Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy."

I love these verses that speak of the temple. It is only being there that you understand the scriptures better. It also made me think of something Sister Nelson mentioned in a recent devotional.

"After conference two friends who have served as leaders of a Missionary Training Center, and who are now serving as senior missionaries in Malta wrote:

"This conference was the very best. President Nelson we feel you have asked us to get on the ark!" "No matter what happens, we know we will be prepared-as-we follow your lead."

(Wendy W. Nelson, Lethbridge Alberta Member Devotional, 16 Oct 2022)

I am studying this past general conference and will make sure I follow all the guidance and instructions given so I get on the ark! Worship in God's temple, and shout for joy.

Day 2769

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 12:10, 13

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 12:10, 13
"I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved."

It has been a wonderful week listening to the words of the prophet and the apostles, which are also prophets, seers and revelators. The Lord prepared his people in the past by prophets. He is doing it again by prophets.

I loved this quote by President Nelson at the Rome Italy temple.
"This is a hinge point in the history of the church. Things are going to move forward at an accelerated pace, of which this is a part. We think the Church is an old Church, It's 189 years old. But it's only the beginning. Just project out what the next future will be and the Church is going to have an unprecedented future, unparalleled; we're just building up to what's ahead now.

As President Nelson mentioned during a recent visit to South America:
"We're witnesses to a process of restoration. If you think the Church has been fully restored, you're just seeing the beginning. There is much more to come...wait till next year. And then the next year. Eat your vitamin pills. Get your rest. It's going to be exciting."

Over and over again in this past general conference I heard reference that we were preparing for the second coming of the Lord. While we prepare for what is ahead is it any more important that we have a prophet then it was for the children of Israel to have a prophet that led them out of Egypt? Is it any different than Joseph being warned by an angel in a dream to flee and then to come out of Egypt to preserved Jesus as a child? This is part of the similitudes that Hosea mentions.

What I want to also reference is this beautiful testimony Sister Wendy Nelson recently give. Baring her personal witness that her husband Russell M. Nelson is the prophet of God. She said, "I can say that I am a witness by being present and I am a witness by being absent, that the Lord indeed instructs His prophet." Sister Nelson's testimony of what happened for two hours one night tells me the prophet is following the Lord's detailed plans right now.

"Two hours later, my husband emerged from our bedroom, and said, 'Wendy, you won't believe what has been happening for two hours. The Lord has given me detailed instructions about a process I am to follow."

I believe the Lord is at the head of this His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he speaks to his living prophet.


Day 1449