#083: “Witness Against Me”?

Reflection: If called upon at any hour, would we be able to turn to the witnesses of our lives and ask these questions and receive this answer?

3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

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Old Testament | 1 Samuel 12:3-4

#082: Corruptions?

Reflection: Do we see any corruptions in religious practice because men and women have chosen their own (more politically correct?) ways over the ways ordained by God?

3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

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Old Testament | Isaiah 66:3

#081: “Exceeding Great and Precious Promises”?

Self-Reflection: Am I striving to escape “the corruption that is in this world”?

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

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New Testament | 2 Peter 1:3-4

#080: “Cunning Plan of the Evil One”

Self-Reflection: Have I fallen for the cunning plan?

28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men [and women]! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
30 But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also.

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:28-30

#079: Changing the Truth of God Into a Lie

Reflection: Does this nigh 1000-year old observation indict our present world?

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

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New Testament | Romans 1:21-25

#078: Of the World or Not?

Reflection: Does the world love me or hate me? Am I a star? or a pariah?

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

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New Testament | John 15:18-19

#077: “Why Are They Not Chosen?”

Self-Reflection: Do verses 35 and 37 describe me? If so, what are the consequences?

34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.

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Doctrine and Covenants | Section 121:34-38

#076: A Lost and Fallen State

Self-Reflection: What are my doings that might be found to be unclean?

6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer. ...
20 Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into judgment.
21 Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment–seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.

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Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 10:6, 20-21

#075: Waxing Gross

Reflection: Do these words from the past describe the ubiquitous gas-lighting that plagues our present narcissistic-affirming culture​?

25 ... Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

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New Testament | Acts 28:25-27

#074: Full of Idols

Reflection: Does this describe the alleged “most powerful” nation on earth today? 

7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:
8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
9 And the mean man boweth not down, and the great man humbleth himself not: therefore forgive them not.

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JST Old Testament | Isaiah 2:7-9 (JST corrections in bold.)

#073: Gross Darkness?

Reflection: Could these words apply to our present culture and medical experimentation?

23 Verily, verily, I say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face.

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Doctrine and Covenants | Section 112:23