Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Monday, July 31, 2023

Acts 19

 It is interesting that Paul was so faithful that - 

"...God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."  (Acts 19:11–12)



Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Acts 17

 Paul's masterful speech on Mars Hill, in my mind, is revealing as he states - 

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device."  (Acts 17:24–29)

The very word "offspring" is defined as - 

"A child or children of a parent or parents"

Obviously, Paul is saying there was a pre-xistence and we are spirit children of our Father in Heaven


Friday, July 21, 2023

Acts 15

 Though the Savior made it clear to the righteous in the Americas that the Law of Moses had been fulfilled, it wasn't so in the early days of the Church for - 

"...the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."  (Acts 15:6–11)

The matter was satisfied by the prophet of President of the Church (Peter).

Monday, July 17, 2023

Acts 10

 I find it interesting that Peter - 

"...saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven."  (Acts 10:11–16)

The interesting part that it was so important that tthe voice said it "thrice".  There is much meaning in "three".

Friday, July 14, 2023

Elder Ronald A. Rasband - Hosanna to the Most High God

As Elder Rasband taught concerning Palm Sunday and the events of the week, he quoted a few scriptures that were impressive to me, first - 

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."  (Zechariah 9:9)


"Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again."  (Matthew 20:18–19)

And - 

"...I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."  (Revelation 7:9–10)

He closed with - 

"I leave with you my blessing as an Apostle of Jesus Christ that you will diligently strive to live righteously and be among those who, with palms in their hands, will herald the Son of God, the great Redeemer of us all..."

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Acts 9

 Peter must have been on of great faith for in Lydda - 

",,,he found a certain man named Æneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

34 And Peter said unto him, Æneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord."  (Acts 9:33–35)

And then in Joppa, a  person of great works, Tabitha - 

"...was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord."  (Acts 9:37–42)

I personally believe President Nelson has this same faith, but probably is constrained in our day.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Acts 8

 I find it interesting that after the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized that - 

"...the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more..."  (Acts 8:39)

Does that mean he disappeared or immediately went away proselyting?

I also note that Philip just didn't baptize anyone for before he did, Philip said - 

"If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."  (Acts 8:37)

The first two principles of the gospel is faith and repentance.

Monday, July 10, 2023

Acts 7

 After Stephen spoke historical records of how Israel continued to reject Moses and the prophets and that the Lord would raise up one like Moses (Christ), he charges - 

"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."  (Acts 7:51–53)

Thus speaking truth, he became the first martyr.

Friday, July 07, 2023

Acts 1

 Jesus commanded His apostles to remain in Jerusalem until - 

"...ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."  (Acts 1:5)

It is cleared the His apostles had experienced the Holy Ghost during his ministry, but the words "baptized with the Holy Ghost" suggests to me a complete baptism or fullness of the gift.