Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 9:20

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 9:20
"And now, my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people; thou knowest that they are without principle, and past feeling; and their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites."

There is a point where you have to step away from the awfulness that you see. You cannot dwell on how things are falling apart. Instead you have to find good works to occupy your mind and efforts. In a lot of ways its like Mormon's letter to his son. You read the headlines, know what is happening, but don't obsess over it.

We are on a course that the judgments of God will fall upon man. Their own wickedness and abominations have paved the way to their own destruction. We are to stand in holy places with a hope and faith in the Lord's second coming. I know the course we are on is of man's own doing, and you do not want to be part of that work.

"And thus we see that the Lord did visit them in the fulness of his wrath, and their wickedness and abominations had prepared a way for their everlasting destruction."
(Ether 14:25)

Day 3587

Today's Favorite Verse: James 2:22

Today's Favorite Verse: James 2:22
"Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?"

The footnotes in this chapter for works refer to good works, obedience, and commitment. These made me ponder on the role of trials in our lives. How trials have a perfect work in turning our hearts in love and trust to the Lord. Many things work upon us to give us experience in this mortal life. This is when we can exercise our faith and grow it. If we do not then faith will fail. It made me think of how Adam and Eve couldn't exercise faith completely in the garden of Eden since they knew neither good nor evil.

"And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient."
(Moses 5:10-11)

If we don't have experiences good or bad that work upon our faith then we cannot obtain it.

Day 3307

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 7:21-23

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 7:21-23

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

I think the Joseph Smith Translation has a very important clarification on that last verse. It wasn't that Christ did not know them, it was that they didn't know Christ.

"And then will I say, Ye never knew me; depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

(JST Matthew 7:33)

Why did they not know him, even though they prophesied in his name, cast out devils and did other works? Because it was all done by their own will and not according to the Father's. They are hypocrites, furthering their own works and desires, and not the Father's. It is through seeking to do the Father's will and keeping his commandments that we come to know Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. When you follow your own will you're listening to the wrong source and lead astray.

Day 3095

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 5:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 5:16

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Good works made me think of "by their fruits ye shall know them".

(3 Nephi 14:20)

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

(Matthew 7:15-18, 20)

If our works are good the light we hold up is Jesus Christ, not ourselves.

"Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed."

(3 Nephi 18:24)

Day 3093

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 113:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 113:2

"Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore."

What caught my eye was "from this time forth". It reminded me of my favorite quote of President Nelson and how he rephrased it this past general conference. I had to go back and compare them.

"But, my dear brothers and sisters, so many wonderful things are ahead. In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns “with power and great glory,”1 He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Overcome the World and Find Rest", Oct 2022 General Conference)

"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", Apr 2018 General Conference)

Day 2750

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 104:24

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 104:24

"O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches."

This chapter speaks of God's creations and works. I pondered on how I take much of these things, like the rising of the sun, for granted. It is good to be reminded that the creation itself testifies of the creator.

"I testify that the earth and all life upon it are of divine origin. The Creation did not happen by chance. It did not come ex nihilo (out of nothing). And human minds and hands able to build buildings or create computers are not accidental. It is God who made us and not we ourselves. We are His people!  The Creation itself testifies of a Creator. We cannot disregard the divine in the Creation. Without our grateful awareness of God’s hand in the Creation, we would be just as oblivious to our provider as are goldfish swimming in a bowl. With deep gratitude, we echo the words of the Psalmist, who said, “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches."

(Russell M. Nelson, "The Creation", Apr 2000, General Conference)

Day 2741

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 6:15-16

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 6:15-16

"And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city."

There were very specific things that the Lord commanded Joshua to have the people do for Jericho to be delivered into their hands. For six days they silently marched once with the ark of the covenant around Jericho. With seven priest blowing seven trumpets ahead of them, and the people in the rearward. Then on the seventh day they marched seven times in similar manner, until the seventh time. Then they were to all shout, and with that the walls of Jericho fell, and it was delivered into their hands.

As I pondered on this I thought about this scriptures

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."

(James 2:17)

The Lord didn't need them to march around Jericho with the ark of the covenant, blow horns and shout. He is powerful enough to deliver Jericho without this. What He needed was an obedient and faithful people. Through these actions they demonstrated they would be both and serve Him.

Day 2352