Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 13:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 13:3-4
"And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.
And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people."

What really stood out to me was the moving of the ark was done as seemed right in the eyes of all the people. It doesn't say it done right in the eyes of the Lord.

"Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.
And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.
For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order."
(1 Chronicles 15:2, 12-13)

So the movement of the ark the first time was not done correctly. When the oxen stumbled and Uzza reached out to steady the ark the Lord smote him. I wonder if Uzza was not a Levite? This is what it says in the Bible Dictionary.

"Uzzah: Strength. Slain for touching the Ark (2 Sam. 6:6); called Uzza (1 Chr. 13:9). The penalty may appear to us severe, but it must be remembered that the Ark was a sacred repository, and the people had been clearly warned that only designated persons could touch the Ark, and warned also of the consequences of disobedience."

This reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a distraught friend, that just needed an ear. One of their children's marriage was falling apart which appeared to be due to one spouse committing adultery. They said they were going to encourage them to go to the temple together as a couple to help them work things out. That thought rather shocked me. To that point I had just been letting them vent. I wasn't looking to give them any advise or opinions but when I heard that I said "Don't do that, especially if one of them is committing adultery. That is the House of the Lord and they need to work with their bishop before they go there. Adultery is far to serious an issue. They do not want to go to the temple and put greater commendations on their heads." After that conversation I wondered how anyone could think going to the temple when you are unworthy to be there would bring blessings?

Day 3861

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 7:11-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 7:11-13
"Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you."

Israel was defeated in battle against Ai and Joshua is grieved. He doesn't understand why they were defeated. Then the Lord tells him that they had taken of the accursed thing and stolen. Joshua questions them and finds Achan had taken a Babylonish garment and silver and gold and hid it. For that Achan and his family, oxen, asses, sheep and tent are all taken to the valley and stoned and burned. That just seems so horrific. We don't see those things today. We are to live a higher law and I pondered on that. I pondered on the apostates and the damage they have done to the church. How the work of the Lord is at times frustrated because of them. What comes upon them instead of physical death is spiritual death. It made me think about how people can lie that they are temple worthy to go in, and how that really effects all of us. Can you imagine what we would see there if all that came into the House of the Lord was truly worthy?

"And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;
Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.
But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples."
(Doctrine and Covenants 97:15-17)

Day 3810

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 3:3-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 3:3-5
"Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

This makes me think of all the talks on wearing our garments and going to the House of the Lord. We cannot afford to be slack in physically wearing our garments or found morally unworthy and unprepared to enter His House. If we are watchful and ready the Lord will not come as a thief in the night. The consequences are just to great.

"The garment of the holy priesthood is a sacred symbol of Jesus Christ and is a reminder of our covenant relationship with Him and Heavenly Father. As endowed members keep the covenants they have made, including the sacred privilege to wear the garment, they will have greater access to the Savior’s mercy, protection, strength, and power."
(First Presidency Letter, "The Garment of the Holy Priesthood", 12 Apr 2024)

Day 3329

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 11:28

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 11:28

"But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup."

Each Sunday I have the opportunity to renew my covenants and partake of the sacrament. The times I have felt the spirit strongest during the sacrament is when I have deeply examined myself and prepared for it during the week. Examining myself is such an important part of that preparation. What sins are weighing me down that I need to resolve before I take the sacrament? For I need to take it worthily. Do I always remember the Savior, and live to have the spirit to be with me? Asking myself that helps me understand if I a drifting and where correction is needed. I love the sacrament hymns and how they prepare me to quietly reflect on the Lord. That is one moment I can tell how close or far away from Him that I am, by how deeply those words mean to me.

Day 3232

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 30:22

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 30:22

"And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God."

It made me think of this quote of President Nelson.

"I love you, my dear brothers and sisters. More important, the Lord loves you. He is your Savior and your Redeemer. He leads and guides His Church. May we be a people worthy of the Lord, who said, “Ye shall be my people, and I will be your God."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Now is the Time", Apr 2022 General Conference)

I feel like each general conference we have been given instruction to be people worthy of the Lord. We just have to listen, repent, and work at it.

Day 2934

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 6:18-19

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 6:18-19

"An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

I feel like lately I'm always drawn to these verses but its what we're going through right now. I'm watching how destructive this behavior is and in the end instead of destroying others they destroy themselves. It's the saddest thing to witness, and I wish I didn't have to. I am reminded of these words from President Nelson as he spoke of the project to renovate the Salt Lake Temple.

"As I have watched workers dig out old tree roots, plumbing, wiring, and a leaky fountain, I have thought about the need for each of us to remove, with the Savior’s help, the old debris in our lives...

I invite you to pray to identify the debris you should remove from your life so you can become more worthy."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Welcome Message", Apr 2021 General Conference)

Never would I imagine the debris that had to be removed in my life was a relationship. I know it is wisdom in the Lord that my family stop walking on eggshells. He opened the door for all that took place and they removed themselves. I cannot help but feel sorrow for them. I have a place of refuge and peace inside my home, and they do not. I am coming to understand more fully forgiveness, love and compassion in ways I never could before. Prayers have become much richer as I pray they get the help that they need.

Day 2793

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 10:1, 6-7, 9

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 10:1, 6-7, 9

"Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.

And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day."

Samuel reminds Saul from the very beginning that it was not because he was anointed that he was blessed. As with any blessing it was conditional on Saul's worthiness. It was his worthiness, that humility that I saw earlier, that changed his heart and increased his spirituality. It allowed him to prophesy among the prophets. If only Saul could remain worthy. I pondered on how we can never take for granted the blessings we receive. They are conditional and we have to work hard and remain humble to be worthy of them.

Day 2405

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 9:4-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 9:4-6

"Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.

Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people."

I pondered on timing and how the land that the Israelites were to possess had to be full of wickedness in order to be destroyed. The forty years in the wilderness was probably not just for Israel but for their enemies too. The Lord fulfills his promises and the children of Israel were to possess this land. The timing was the Lord's, even if they people didn't yet deserve it out of righteousness. The counsel to not say it was your righteousness that gave you this is that is a good one. For when you think it, you are already crossing over into pride. I would think the better thing is to thank God and pray and work to always be found worthy of the blessings already given.

Day 2321

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 19:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 19:10-11

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai."

I sat and wondered how I would feel to be told in three days I would see the Lord. I think when one is told that you already know if you are worthy or not. That would make all the difference in how you would approach such an event.

Day 2228

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 15:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 15:5
"Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?"

The Lord is using the vine tree as an example of Jerusalem. Which can also be an example of me. I pondered on how those that do not prepare themselves to serve the Lord are not fit for any of his work. How much less fit would a person be, if they are burned and destroyed? To have value and purpose I need to serve the Lord.

Day 1392

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: Leviticus 21:6, 17, 23

Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 21:6, 17, 23

"They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.

Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.

Only he shall not go into the veil, or come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the Lord do sanctify them."

These verses made me ponder on the need to hold a temple recommend, or be worthy to hold one, in order to work for the church or attend a church college. I also thought upon the need for the priest that blesses the sacrament, and the deacons that pass it, how they must be clean. Those that work in the temple and attend the temple must all be temple worthy and have a current recommend. No where do I see an outward blemish, like being blind, flat nosed, brokenhanded or scabbed causing someone to be considered unworthy. The blemish today is on the inside where no one can see. God alone can see the blemishes. I alone will know if I am clean or if I mock God. What a higher law that is to live. 

Day 686

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 19:12, 21, 23

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 19:12, 21, 23

"And thou shalt set bound unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish.

And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it."

I try to likely the scriptures to my day, so as I read this chapter of the Lord coming to mount Sinai I pondered on how this is today. I know mountains are a reference to the temples. What are the bounds I am not to touch? I though of the quiet little temple recommend desk that none can pass in the temple without being worthy. That is the bounds set today. Maybe people don't physically die today if they go unworthy, but they most certainly will spiritually die.

Where Moses stood was the Holy of Holies. I have often wondered what the Holy of Holies looks like in the temple. I would love to just peek inside the door. I guess as this verse says I have wanted to gaze. I know where it is in the Salt Lake Temple. I have sat and looked on those doors and wondered, but I cannot even bring myself to go close and touch the door. After reading this I think that is a very wise thing for me not to do.

There is a photograph of the Holy of Holies taken in the early 1900's and released by the church in the book "The House of the Lord" by Elder James E. Talmage. It was in response to a blackmail attempt made against the church when someone snuck in during renovations and took photographs. The church in response took their own photos and released them. Now there are open houses and photographs taken prior to temple dedication so all that wish to know can see. 

Boyd K. Packer, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has stated that "hidden away in the central part of the temple is the Holy of Holies, where the President of the Church may retire when burdened down with heavy decisions to seek an interview with Him whose Church it is. The prophet holds the keys, the spiritual keys and the very literal key to this one door in that sacred edifice."

Just like in the Salt Lake Temple every temple around the world has a Holy of Holies. It would not be the Lord's house without one. The locations and size vary, but I know they are there. After pondering on these things I am not so curious to go see them. I am totally filled to know they are there. 

Day 644