Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 115:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 115:6
"And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth."

As of April 2024 there were 3,500 stakes and districts, and some 30,000 wards and branches of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world. When we lived back East it took us almost an hour to get to our stake center. Where we live now it's two blocks away. I do feel it's a place of refuge every Sunday when I go there and take the sacrament. How grateful I am that political discussions don't pierce my ears there. Even when I was young I knew we didn't talk politics at church. We don't speak bad about other religions either. I feel like this long standing counsel has been a defense and a protection to me. The spirit hasn't been compelled to leave. Especially, now when people are so divided. The focus is on Jesus Christ and becoming saints.

“A defense” implies help in resisting or protection from attack, “a refuge” refers to a place of safety or shelter, and “the storm” can refer to tumultuous or frightening surroundings, attacks from enemies of the Church, or Satan’s temptations. The Lord also promised that those who gather to the stakes of Zion would be protected “from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth” before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ"
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, "Chapter 45: Doctrine and Covenants 115-120")

Day 3704

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 5:5, 9-11

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 5:5, 9-11

"And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.'

This is the story of Ananias and Sapphira that lied to Peter on the price of the sale of land. They were not just lying to Peter, they lied to the Lord. Yet the Lord knew and both of them dropped dead. This reminds me of something that happened this week. A Turkish MP was speaking to Parliament and proclaimed Israel would face "the wrath of Allah". Then his heart stopped and he collapsed to the floor. Someone performed CPR and he was revived and taken to the hospital. He remained in critical condition until he died.

Now I don't know for sure if it was an act of God, but I sure wouldn't want to mess with it. God can choose who he wants to make an example, just like he did with Ananias and Sapphira. Don't mess with God's people. It also reminded me of President Nelson's quote and makes me wonder what mighty works are to come.

"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."

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

Day 3182