Judges 2

 I find it significant as we read after the passing of Joshua - 

"...there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

11 ¶ And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim..."  (Judges 2:10–11

Just like after king Benjamin, the rising generation know not God, we see the same when parents failed to teach their children.

Elder Neil L. Anderson - Following Jesus: Being a Peacemaker

 As Elder Neil L. Anderson talked about being a peacemaker, he said - 

"Some of the attacks upon the Savior were so malicious that He said nothing. “And the chief priests and scribes … vehemently accused him … and mocked him,” but Jesus “answered [them] nothing.” There are times when being a peacemaker means that we resist the impulse to respond and instead, with dignity, remain quiet."

Then adding - 

"Jesus taught us to withdraw from the circle of anger and contention. In one example, after the Pharisees confronted Jesus and counseled how they might destroy Him, the scriptures say that Jesus withdrew Himself from them, and miracles occurred as “great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.”

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you. …

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Joshua 7

 The Lord warned Israel as they were about to attack Jericho - 

"...ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

At19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord." (Joshua 6:18–19)

Later as the Israelites attack Ai as lose thirty-six warriors that the Lord tells Joshua - 

"Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff."  (Joshua 7:11)

As Joshua interviews the camp - 

"...Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.

20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:

21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it."  (Joshua 7:19–21)

Achan and his family was then brought to Joshua and - 

"...Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones."  (Joshua 7:25)

Joshua 23

 As the Israelites again covenant to keep the commandments of the Lord, He promises and warns -

"But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.

9 For the Lord hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.

12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

13 Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you."  (Joshua 23:8–13)

Joshua 5

 As the Israelites cross the river Jordan and manna was ceased that - 

"...it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

15 And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so."  (Joshua 5:13–15)

I wonder is this was Jehovah Himself in the Joshua fell on his face and did worship Him.  I note that Joshua took his shoes off much like Moses at the burning bush as wherein he stood on a holy place.

President Dallin H. Oaks - Divine Love in the Father’s Plan

 As President Dallin H. Oaks discussed the Plan of Salvation for all of God's children, some comments stood out to me -

"He taught that to love God and to love our neighbors are the first of God’s great commandments.1 Those commands are first because they invite us to grow spiritually by seeking to imitate God’s love for us. I wish we all had a better understanding of the loving doctrine and policies that our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, have established in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What I say here seeks to clarify how God’s love explains that doctrine and the Church’s inspired policies."

I note "Those commands are first because they invite us to grow spiritually by seeking to imitate God’s love for us" or in other words, become like Him.

For - 

"The highest of these is exaltation in the celestial kingdom, wherein we may become like our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ."

Thus - 

"As a Book of Mormon prophet taught, we must press forward, having “a love of God and of all men.”"

I add - 

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."  (Romans 8:16–17)

Joshua 1

 The Lord said to Joshua concerning Israel and properity - 

"Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."  (Joshua 1:7–9)

These words are just as applicable in our day.

Deuteronomy 30

 After being scattered due to not keeping their covenants, the Lord promises - 

"...when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,

2 And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;

3 That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee."  (Deuteronomy 30:1–3)

Isn't it interesting that on April 3rd, 1836, in the Kirtland Temple - 

"...the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north."  (Doctrine and Covenants 110:11)

Starting the gathering of Israel as prophesied in Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 7

The Lord explains one reason why He favors the Israelites - 

"But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations..."(Deuteronomy 7:8–9)

Or forever.

Elder David A. Bednar - But We Heeded Them Not

 As Elder David A. Bednar counseled concerning "heed not", he concludes - 

"Let me suggest that holding fast to the word of God entails (1) remembering, honoring, and strengthening the personal connection we have with the Savior and His Father through the covenants and ordinances of the restored gospel and (2) prayerfully, earnestly, and consistently using the holy scriptures and the teachings of living prophets and apostles as sure sources of revealed truth. As we are bound and “hold fast” to the Lord and are transformed by living His doctrine,24 I promise that individually and collectively we will be blessed to “stand in holy places, and shall not be moved.”25 If we abide in Christ, then He will abide in and walk with us.26 Surely, “in the days of trial his Saints he will cheer, and prosper the cause of truth.”

Numbers 22

 When I read - 

"...God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do."  (Numbers 22:20)

When I read that, I felt something was not translated correctly.  After further doing some more research, I found that the Joseph Smith Translation added - 

"if thou wilt" to "rise up".  Now that seemed right.  The Lord allows us to choose in many matters.

Numbers 20

 One of the more interesting events of Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness was when - 

"...the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

12 ¶ And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them."  (Numbers 20:7–12)

David Ridges comments - 

"Did you notice that Moses was told to “speak” to the rock, but he hit it instead? You may wish to mark footnote 12a in your Bible, which points this out. Also, did you see that, in effect, Moses took credit to himself and Aaron, rather than giving credit to the Lord? Jehovah will confront Moses and Aaron for this, in verse 12, next. Numbers 20: 12 

"And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not [didn't obey], to sanctify me [build up the Lord] in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them."

Exodus 11

 The Lord suggests that Moses was one of his greater prophets explaining to Aaron and Miriam - 

 "...Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth..."  (Numbers 12:6–8)

But even so, Moses is overwhelmed as he confesses - 

"...Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?"  (Numbers 11:11–12)

I'm sure at time, that many Church leaders feel this way...and justifiably so.

President M. Russell Ballard - Missionary Service Blessed My Life Forever

 President M. Russell Ballard said in general conference - 

"My missionary service prepared me to be a better husband and father and to be successful in business. It also prepared me for a lifetime of service to the Lord in His Church."

I have always felt exactly the same!

Leviticus 19

The Lord spake to Moses - 

"Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another."  (Leviticus 19:11)

"...ye shall not swear by my name falsely..."  (Leviticus 19:12)

"Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.

36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have..."  (Leviticus 19:35–36)

Honesty in dealings with others seem to be a significant part of the law of Moses.

Exodus 16

 As I was reading Exodus 16 and 19, I read the following comment - 

“Ripe in iniquity.” Behaviors that lead a nation to destruction. We often see the phrase “ripe in iniquity” in the scriptures (Ether 2: 9; 9: 20; Helaman 13: 14; D& C 18: 6). It means that a nation or people are ready to be destroyed by the Lord. Leviticus 18 describes many of the behaviors and attitudes that lead a nation to that point. You will see that many of these behaviors have to do with open acceptance of sexual immorality, including homosexuality and other sexual perversions."  (Ridges, David J.. The Old Testament Made Easier - Part 2) 

We are beginning to see more of this in our day.

Exodus 40

 I found it interesting that when - 

"...a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys."  (Exodus 40:34–38)

The Israelites had plenty of tokens or signs that demonstrated the presence of diety.