Steven Allen

We’ve been talking about tunes that somehow creep into our consciousness, like “If ever I could leave You.” And the one you were going to send me the words to. Well, this morning, one of my favorite ballads came to my mind. “This Land is Your Land.” I believe by the Kingson Trio. Beautiful song. But listen to this.

Since I finished reading the Book of Mormon again in January, I have not started a new program of reading specifically any of the standard works. I still read at least a chapter of scripture a day, but I choose a chapter or section, or in some instances randomly open my book to a page and read what’s there. That’s what I did this morning. Opened randomly.

In light of Dave’s report on Elder Nelsons talk about the scattering and gathering of Israel, I thought this morning’s random pick was most interesting.

My scriptures opened, without any particular assistance to find a certain book (which I sometimes do), to the Book of Amos in the Old Testament. And right at chapter 9. So I read chapter 9. Here are two verses that stood out to me.

Verse 9: “For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.” Sift like corn in a sieve. That’s pretty well sifted! Among all nations.

Then verse 15: “And I will plant them upon THIER land, and they shall no longer be pulled up out of their land WHICH I HAVE GIVEN THEM, saith the Lord thy God.” As “The Harbinger” and “The Covenant” both describe, they, the lost tribes of Israel, are gathered to this land of America.

So I cross referenced that, this morning, in my Bible, to 1 Nephi, chapter 2, verse 20: “And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land which I have prepared for YOU; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.”

And if that’s not enough, add 2 Ne. 1:5, where Nephi reports their successful landing in a new land: “But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of PROMISE, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath COVENANTED with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath COVENANTED this land unto me and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.” (Emphasis added).

What about that promise in Amos? I will plant them in THIER LAND. It is a promised land. A choice land. Keep the commandments and prosper, have liberty and have the protection of the Lord.

I, myself, thought that was all pretty remarkable. So I thought I’d better share it with you and see what you think.

Here is the scripture that we, or I, wanted us to read together yesterday. Just as I thought, it is in the Book of Revelation. I don’t remember why we were talking about this, what caused it to come up, or the context, but it’s still very interesting. You and I have read this together on several occasions before. Rev. 3:20–”Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Sup is not in the topical guide!)

Then you have to go to John 14:23–”Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (Emphasis added.) When Joseph Smith was asked about this verse, he gave this following revelation: D&C 130:3–”John 14:23–the appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false.”

We just need to hear His voice and open the door for our own personal appearance. So listen up!