Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 6:39-40

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 6:39-40
" And thus they did obtain the sole management of the government, insomuch that they did trample under their feet and smite and rend and turn their backs upon the poor and the meek, and the humble followers of God.
And thus we see that they were in an awful state, and ripening for an everlasting destruction."

If we see the poor, meek and humble followers of God being trampled we will know we are ripe for destruction. It feels like we are ripe and ready for this to fall on us in the "space of not many years". I keep thinking of the weeping, and wailing and gnashing of teeth". Yes, persecution will be dreadful, but with God you can have peace in the storm. What I would not want, is to be in the shoes of those that sanctioned it, and brought it upon others. That realization of what they had done would be a terrible grief to bare. I feel sorrow for them.

"Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up."
(Ether 8:23-24)

Day 3513

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 5:47-48

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 5:47-48
"Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world.
And now, when they heard this they cast up their eyes as if to behold from whence the voice came; and behold, they saw the heavens open; and angels came down out of heaven and ministered unto them."

Helamen's sons Lehi and Nephi went to the land of Nephi to preach to the Lamanites. They were cast into prison and then a miraculous event takes place. They were encircled as if by fire and it hurt them not. The Lamanites were fearful to touch them. Then the earth shook and a cloud of darkness overshadowed the Lamanites and Nephite dissenters. A voice speaks from over the cloud of darkness. They are called to repentance. It was of perfect mildness and pierced their souls. Then a Nephite from birth tells them to turn around and look at Lehi and Nephite, their faces were glowing and talking with angels. The people see this and are told to repent and cry unto the voice until they have faith in Christ, which they did. The cloud disperses and they are all encircled by a pillar of fire and filled with joy. This is when God the Father speaks to all of them. There are only a few times we hear His voice in scriptures and this is one of them. Then angels came down and ministered to them. What a marvelous event took place. The 300 people that witness this go and declare what they saw and heard and minister to those around them.

"Insomuch that the more part of the Lamanites were convinced of them, because of the greatness of the evidence which they had received." (verse 50)

Events like this are what I think of when I heard President Nelson say this.

"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", April 2018)

Day 3512

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 4:26

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 4:26
"For behold, they saw that the strength of the Lamanites was as great as their strength, even man for man. And thus had they fallen into this great transgression; yea, thus had they become weak, because of their transgression, in the space of not many years."

The phrase "In the space of not many years" stood out to me. Probably because of Elder Bednar's recent general conference talk on this. As I looked at the footnote I find the book of Helaman repeats this several times.

"And it came to pass that all these iniquities did come unto them in the space of not many years, insomuch that a more part of it had come unto them in the sixty and seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi."
(Helaman 6:32)

"Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of not many years; and when Nephi saw it, his heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaim in the agony of his soul:"
(Helaman 7:6)

"And thus in time, yea, even in the space of not many years, they became an exceedingly great band of robbers; and they did search out all the secret plans of Gadianton; and thus they became robbers of Gadianton."
(Helaman 11:26)

From the beginning of the book of Helaman to the 4th chapter it covers 20 years. I reflected on the last 20 years for us and yes I have seen a drastic spiritual and moral decline in people. Yet at the same time I do see a great spiritual increase in the true followers of Jesus Christ. Granted there seems to be fewer of them, but what is there are those preparing for the Lord's second coming. Just like those in Helaman's time are waiting for the sign of Christ's birth.

Day 3511

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 3:1, 36

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 3:1, 36
"And now it came to pass in the forty and third year of the reign of the judges, there was no contention among the people of Nephi save it were a little pride which was in the church, which did cause some little dissensions among the people, which affairs were settled in the ending of the forty and third year.
And it came to pass that the fifty and second year ended in peace also, save it were the exceedingly great pride which had gotten into the hearts of the people; and it was because of their exceedingly great riches and their prosperity in the land; and it did grow upon them from day to day."

At the start of the chapter there is a little pride. By the end of the chapter there is exceedingly great pride. They had peace without war, riches and prosperity, and they yet were effected with the greatest of Satan's tools, pride. That is something every human being that walks this earth has to learn to overcome. It is something that constantly has to be monitored within us. Pride is my greatest fear.

"At this point you may be thinking that this message would really help someone you know. Perhaps you are hoping that it will help him or her to be nicer to you. I hope it will! But I also hope that you will look deeply into your heart to see if there are shards of pride or jealousy that prevent you from becoming a peacemaker."
(Russell M. Nelson, "Peacemakers Needed", Apr 2023 General Conference)

Day 3510