#095: “Save It Be a Few”

Self-Reflection: Do I consider myself numbered amongst the few? What is my evidence?

4 And my vineyard has become corrupted every whit; and there is none which doeth good save it be a few; and they err in many instances because of priestcrafts, all having corrupt minds.

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Doctrine and Covenants | Section 33:4

#094: “No Place in Them”

Self-Reflection: What is the condition of my heart? What have I cast away?

2 But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.*

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*Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 33:2

#093: Speaking Villany

Reflection: How much hypocrisy do we see in our culture, masking evil with alleged good? Are we beginning to see the mask slipping as the arrogance of evil takes pride in its iniquity?

5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

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Old Testament | Isaiah 32:5-6

#092: “So Did Their Fathers”

Self-Reflection: If I only hear praise from my associates, should I take warning?

26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.*

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*New Testament | Luke 6:26

#091: “They Will Not Search Knowledge”

Self-Reflection: How much time do I spend each day searching for knowledge?

7 And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 32:7

#090: The Nature of Many

Self-Reflection: Do any of these words describe me?

3 Behold, it is expedient that much should be done among this people, because of the hardness of their hearts, and the deafness of their ears, and the blindness of their minds, and the stiffness of their necks; nevertheless, God is exceedingly merciful unto them, and has not as yet swept them off from the face of the land.

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Book of Mormon | Jarom 1:3

#089: Divided Opinions

Reflection: In reviewing the divisive power of the COVID mandates, can we see a hint of what human nature might be capable of?

12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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New Testament | Mark 13:12-13

#088: “Even as in Times of Old”

Reflection: Can we see secret combinations and priestcrafts in our day?

22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever. ...
29 He [the Lord] commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:22-29

#087: “False and Vain and Foolish Doctrines”

Reflection: Has this become the norm?

7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.
8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:7-9

#086: “Taught by the Precepts of Men”

Reflection: Do we see these B.C. accusations any where in our A.D. churches?

12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.
13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.
14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:12-14

#085: “Mists of Darkness”

Self-Reflection: What are the mists of darkness that fog up my live?

17 And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost.
18 And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever.

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Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 12:17-18

#084: “Unrighteous Decrees”

Reflection: Could these words from 700s BC describe, in part, many of the decrees of these past two-plus years?

1 WOE unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!

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Old Testament | Isaiah 10:1-2