Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 6:36
"If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;"
In this chapter Solomon gives the temple dedicatory prayer. When I reached the part of them being carried away captives I reflected on how that literally is what happened to them. They were warned in their dedicatory prayer. I wondered what the dedicatory prayer contained for the temple which I attend? I found the Mount Timpanogos Temple Dedicatory Prayer and read it. I can't say any warning stood out to me.
I did wonder about these lines. "May its beauty never be marred by evil hands. May it stand strong against the winds and storms that will beat upon it."
I would never want to see this beautiful temple marred by evil hands. I pray as a people we will remain faithful so this blessing upon our temple keeps it protected. The temple was dedicated in Oct 1996 and I don't recall any bad storms since then. It must be in the future. If the temple was blessed to stand against the wind and storms, I couldn't help but wonder how those storms would effect my home nearby.
I loved this promise:
"May it be a beacon of peace and a refuge to the troubled. May it be an holy sanctuary to those whose burdens are heavy and who seek Thy consoling comfort."
What a place of refuge I have found the temple to be. My burdens have been lifted and I have been consoled and comforted there. I thought about the terrible times I went through when I wasn't going to the temple. What a contrast between then and now. How I wish I knew then what I know now. The place I needed to be wasn't where my heart was, and I paid a price for it. How many people do I know around me that desperately need the blessing of peace and comfort in their troubled lives. Their refuge is just sitting on the hill. The thought of them not going there breaks my heart.
Day 948
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017
Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 5:14
Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 5:14
"So that the priest could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God."
This made me think about all the times in the Book of Mormon were people were overcome by the spirit and fell to the earth. The spirit in the temple must have been so strong that the priest limbs were weak causing them to not be able to stand.
This made me hunt for the story of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon receiving the vision of the degrees of glory.
"By this time in his life Joseph Smith had become so used to looking beyond the veil that it was almost an everyday occurrence. When he and Sidney Rigdon were privileged at Father Johnson’s home in Hiram, Ohio, to have the revelation that is known as section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants [D&C 76], he was so used to the Spirit of the Lord that he did not fall to the earth from exhaustion as Moses had done when he talked with God (Moses 1:9–10) and as he himself had done after the First Vision. In fact we see a little bit of Joseph’s humor in this incident. After the vision closed, Sidney was completely exhausted and had to lie down on the couch. Seeing Sidney’s pallor, Joseph remarked with a smile on his face: “Well, Brother Sidney is not as used to it as I am.” (Juvenile Instructor, vol. 27 [May 15, 1892], pp. 303–4.)"
(The New Era, December 1973, "The Greatness of Joseph Smith and His Remarkable Visions")
I sat and read that whole article it was very interesting.
Here's another witness' account.
“Joseph sat firmly and calmly all the time in the midst of a magnificent glory, but Sidney sat limp and pale, apparently as limber as a rag, observing which, Joseph remarked, smilingly, ‘Sidney is not used to it as I am.’” (Juvenile Instructor, May 1892, pp. 303–4.)"
Day 947
"So that the priest could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God."
This made me think about all the times in the Book of Mormon were people were overcome by the spirit and fell to the earth. The spirit in the temple must have been so strong that the priest limbs were weak causing them to not be able to stand.
This made me hunt for the story of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon receiving the vision of the degrees of glory.
"By this time in his life Joseph Smith had become so used to looking beyond the veil that it was almost an everyday occurrence. When he and Sidney Rigdon were privileged at Father Johnson’s home in Hiram, Ohio, to have the revelation that is known as section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants [D&C 76], he was so used to the Spirit of the Lord that he did not fall to the earth from exhaustion as Moses had done when he talked with God (Moses 1:9–10) and as he himself had done after the First Vision. In fact we see a little bit of Joseph’s humor in this incident. After the vision closed, Sidney was completely exhausted and had to lie down on the couch. Seeing Sidney’s pallor, Joseph remarked with a smile on his face: “Well, Brother Sidney is not as used to it as I am.” (Juvenile Instructor, vol. 27 [May 15, 1892], pp. 303–4.)"
(The New Era, December 1973, "The Greatness of Joseph Smith and His Remarkable Visions")
I sat and read that whole article it was very interesting.
Here's another witness' account.
“Joseph sat firmly and calmly all the time in the midst of a magnificent glory, but Sidney sat limp and pale, apparently as limber as a rag, observing which, Joseph remarked, smilingly, ‘Sidney is not used to it as I am.’” (Juvenile Instructor, May 1892, pp. 303–4.)"
Day 947
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 4:7
Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 4:7
"And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left."
Every time I see the mention of candlesticks in the temple I think of the mention of them in Revelations. I'm not sure of the connection completely. I decided to read every reference to candlesticks in the scriptures. The whole time I read I kept picturing myself walking into the celestial room of the temple in the early morning hours, when it's still dark outside. My eyes are drawn to an end table with a small lamp burning. The glow of the lamp fills my heart and in my mind I hear the song "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy".
Then I found this verse about candlesticks.
"And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side."
(Exodus 26:35)
Amazingly, that is exactly where this lamp I am drawn to sits in the temple.
Then I found this verse about candlesticks.
"No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light."
(Luke 11:33)
I sat and pondered on what that all means to me. Christ is the light. Candlesticks hold up the light of Christ. That light should not be hide under a bushel, but be beams that light the way back to Him. The prophets act as candlesticks to me, they hold up the light of Christ. I also must follow their example and hold up the light of Christ for others. I cannot bury it under a bushel, or hide it in a secret place. True followers of Christ are his candlesticks. Those candlesticks can come in many shapes and sizes. I think I am one of many lower lights that must keep burning, to help others to the shore.
I love this quote from the story about the song "Brightly Beams Our Fathers Mercy".
"The master will take care of the great lighthouse, but he depends on us to keep the lower lights burning."
Brightly Beams Our Fathers Mercy
Brightly beams our Father’s mercy
From his lighthouse evermore,
But to us he gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Dark the night of sin has settled;
Loud the angry billows roar.
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;
Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Day 946
"And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left."
Every time I see the mention of candlesticks in the temple I think of the mention of them in Revelations. I'm not sure of the connection completely. I decided to read every reference to candlesticks in the scriptures. The whole time I read I kept picturing myself walking into the celestial room of the temple in the early morning hours, when it's still dark outside. My eyes are drawn to an end table with a small lamp burning. The glow of the lamp fills my heart and in my mind I hear the song "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy".
Then I found this verse about candlesticks.
"And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side."
(Exodus 26:35)
Amazingly, that is exactly where this lamp I am drawn to sits in the temple.
Then I found this verse about candlesticks.
"No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light."
(Luke 11:33)
I sat and pondered on what that all means to me. Christ is the light. Candlesticks hold up the light of Christ. That light should not be hide under a bushel, but be beams that light the way back to Him. The prophets act as candlesticks to me, they hold up the light of Christ. I also must follow their example and hold up the light of Christ for others. I cannot bury it under a bushel, or hide it in a secret place. True followers of Christ are his candlesticks. Those candlesticks can come in many shapes and sizes. I think I am one of many lower lights that must keep burning, to help others to the shore.
I love this quote from the story about the song "Brightly Beams Our Fathers Mercy".
"The master will take care of the great lighthouse, but he depends on us to keep the lower lights burning."
Brightly Beams Our Fathers Mercy
Brightly beams our Father’s mercy
From his lighthouse evermore,
But to us he gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Dark the night of sin has settled;
Loud the angry billows roar.
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;
Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Day 946
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 3:1
Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 3:1
"Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in the mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite."
What else happened in mount Moriah?
"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, who thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." (Genesis 22:2)
It is the story of Abraham and Isaac. Where Abraham was command to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham demonstrated his obedience to the will of God. Then an angel of the Lord called out to him, to not lay his hand on him. "I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not witheld thy son, thine only son from me." The Lord then provided a ram to offer up instead.
How fitting that this first house of the Lord would be at mount Moriah. As Abraham being asked to offer up his only son was a type and shadow to God giving his only begotten son for us. I sat and pondered on how many types and shadows the Lord was giving the people in everything he commanded them to do. Why could they not recognize the Christ and his ultimate sacrifice?
As I read in the remainder of the chapter all the precious material put into the temple, I though of the most precious material given for them. It was the blood of Christ, worth more than any other thing.
Day 945
"Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in the mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite."
What else happened in mount Moriah?
"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, who thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." (Genesis 22:2)
It is the story of Abraham and Isaac. Where Abraham was command to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham demonstrated his obedience to the will of God. Then an angel of the Lord called out to him, to not lay his hand on him. "I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not witheld thy son, thine only son from me." The Lord then provided a ram to offer up instead.
How fitting that this first house of the Lord would be at mount Moriah. As Abraham being asked to offer up his only son was a type and shadow to God giving his only begotten son for us. I sat and pondered on how many types and shadows the Lord was giving the people in everything he commanded them to do. Why could they not recognize the Christ and his ultimate sacrifice?
As I read in the remainder of the chapter all the precious material put into the temple, I though of the most precious material given for them. It was the blood of Christ, worth more than any other thing.
Day 945
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