Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 16:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 16:8
"And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid."

Why were they afraid? I looked for references but couldn't find any that explained them being afraid. I understand trembling and being amazed for seeing angels and being told Christ has risen, but why would that make them afraid? Were they afraid to tell others because they wouldn't be believed? This is what happened, until he appeared to the eleven. There is a discrepancies in the testimony of the witnesses. The first three gospels say the angels were seen by the women but John says it was Mary Magdalene alone. Could their fear to speak about what happened cause the other women to not be mentioned by John?

Day 4097

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 10:8, 34, 45

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 10:8, 34, 45
"And because you have delivered the writings into his hands, behold, wicked men have taken them from you.
But behold, here is wisdom, and because I show unto you wisdom, and give you commandments concerning these things, what you shall do, show it not unto the world until you have accomplished the work of translation.
Behold, there are many things engraven upon the plates of Nephi which do throw greater views upon my gospel; therefore, it is wisdom in me that you should translate this first part of the engravings of Nephi, and send forth in this work."

Seventy verses in this chapter and each one of them holds so much to ponder on. It was hard to pick a favorite. What I liked about these verses are they contained things I had not considered before. In verse 10 the Lord said "wicked men" had taken the 116 pages that were lost. He really could have said a women if Martin Harris' wife Lucy was among them. Lucy was affiliated with the Quaker's and on her death bed confirmed again that she had nothing to do with the lost pages. People of faith don't lie on their death beds, especially a Quaker.

In verse 34 I thought about how those that stole the 116 pages probably figured up until they read the Book of Mormon that they were going to prove Joseph was a false prophet by changing what was in those 116 pages. They had no idea that the book of Lehi was not retranslated.

In verse 45 I thought about how the better part is what was given us. How often I have had disappointments and things not go my way, according to my will. Yet, the Lord blesses me more after the trial of my faith. He brings me to something better. It's been a school of hard knocks but I have learn from repeated experience that the Lord knows best.

Day 3599

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 32:8-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 32:8-9

"But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment."

Everyone born to this earth is given the light of Christ to know right from wrong.

"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."

(1 Corinthians 12:7)

With this we still have our agency and can choose to be unwise. I have always loved to be around older people and learn from them. I had been taught to respect my elders and that they knew more than me. It wasn't until I was probably in my thirties that I shockingly realized some adults were not all wise and knowing and lacked understanding or judgment. They appeared stunted in their growth and did foolish things. That was so disappointing and heartbreaking to me. Once realizing this I vowed to not be that type of example to others. I have taken this verse to heart.

"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."

(Titus 2:3-5)

Day 2627

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 21:20-21

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 21:20-21

"Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;

And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin."

This story of giving wives to the remnant of the tribe of Benjamin reminded me of the story of the wicked priests of king Noah in the Book of Mormon. I wonder if the story in Judges emboldened the wicked priest to think they were justified in what they did?

"And having tarried in the wilderness, and having discovered the daughters of the Lamanites, they laid and watched them;

And when there were but few of them gathered together to dance, they came forth out of their secret places and took them and carried them into the wilderness; yea, twenty and four of the daughters of the Lamanites they carried into the wilderness."

(Mosiah 20:4-5)

Day 2391

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 27:4-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 27:4-7

"Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.

And Moses brought their cause before the Lord.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them."

This is a wonderful example of how an issue should be brought before the Lord. Zelophehad's posterity received no inheritance because he had no sons. His daughters spoke up and Moses then inquired of the Lord. Then the Lord spoke and established a new law among them regarding inheritances. We've seen this happened with other issues. Sometimes the answer is yes, and other times no, or not now. Though I am curious in this case how the daughters would have behaved if the answer was no.

Day 2303

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 28:7, 9

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 28:7, 9
"And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him."

I went back and read the other accounts of Jesus resurrection and appearances and this is the only account I could find of the women running to tell the disciplines and meeting Jesus along the way. They are mentioned in Luke's account by not that they met him.

Mary Magdalene saw the resurrected Lord first, early in the morning. She was told "Touch men not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father." It was later at sunrise the other women came to the sepulchre and found the angels there. They were instructed to tell his disciples he was risen. Obediently running along the way they meet the resurrected Lord. They held his feet and worshiped him. It was all the same day so there is a small period of time been early in the morning to sunrise. I find it interesting one was told not to touch him and others could. How much time passed between the two events? How much time did Jesus need to ascend to his Father?

After reading and pondering on the accounts I realized it all really doesn't matter to me. It is interesting, it would be good to have the complete account, but in the long run I'm fine with not understanding what exactly happened. I just know it did happen. What I wondered is what would I have done when I met Jesus along the way? I can picture many things and it all reminds of that song "I Can Only Imagine". I had to go listen to that.



Day 1532

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 44:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 44:16-17
"As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee.
But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil."

Now something makes sense to me that I didn't understand. I would always feel rather anxious when I would hear people speak of a mother in heaven. Oh I understand the words to the hymn "O My Father" by Eliza R. Snow. "Truth is reason; truth eternal; Tells me I've a mother there." I do believe if I have a Heavenly Father that I must have a Heavenly Mother. But, I do not think of her. I just feel Heavenly Father has a very good reason why she is not addressed in the scriptures. I'm ok with that.

I have seen other women get rather obsessed about a Heavenly Mother. Going in length about their feelings about her. Often I wonder where are they getting this supposed doctrine from? They seem more involved with her than with Heavenly Father. To the point I totally wish to excuse myself from their discussions, for it troubles my soul. Now in this chapter I think I see a connection to those feelings. There is a reason why we don't create our own impressions about a Heavenly Mother. Just like in Jeremiah's time it was the women that started this fascination and worship of a mother in heaven. In speaking about the apostasy this was a downfall to the early church too.

"The Archontics, who believed in seven heavens, each one presided over by a prince; they also believed in the Supreme Mother in Heaven, a faith condemned in Jeremiah, chapters seven and forty-four."
(Mark E. Petersen, Apr 1979 General Conference, "Signs of the True Church)

It is interesting to see that in Jeremiah's time those that worshiped the "queen of heaven" thought she brought them blessings, and when they stopped evil came upon them. Not understand how they had this twisted. It was because of their worship of her that it angered God and this is why they now suffered. I think Jeremiah is very much so warning us in our day, of not taking up this same practice. It is God the Father that we love with all our hearts, mind and soul. The temptation to create another god is very real. Even if it is to make it in the image of a mother in Heaven.

Day 1364

Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 12:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 12:7

"Who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is a law for her that hath born a male or a female."

I really had to sit and ponder on this. I didn't understand why just because a women had a baby and bleed she had to be considered unclean. Why an offering and atonement had to be made? I decided I needed to think about how I felt after having a baby. I was rather crazy. Life was crazy, everything was turned upside down and 24/7 my life was focused on this baby that I adored and would have fought to the death to protect. 

Being left alone and having no responsibility other than my child would have been a blessing. It would have given me some much needed peace. Would it not have been merciful to the women, instead of a punishment. With that in mind would the offering made afterwards been in thanks for this child. For that matter wouldn't this be also covering the emotional burdens the Lord's atonement promises to carry for me. I can see this now not as a punishment for my sex, but a loving God blessing and honoring my womanhood. 

Day 677